# Incident 20240111001169I: Piper PA-28-180, Sunset, TX, January 11, 2024

- Type: FAA incident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: January 11, 2024, 14:57 local time
- Place: Sunset, TX
- Damage: Minor damage
- Phase of flight: Cruise/Level Flight
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Aircraft: N5120S, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N5120S) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Piper PA-28-180 (registry code 7102808, https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-180) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming O&VO-360 series (registry code 41514, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-vo-360-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28-180
- Reported engine: LYCOMING O&VO-360 SER
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Private pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 170 total
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20240111001169I

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

THE PILOT STATED THAT HE RECENTLY HAD AN OVERHAULED LYCOMING ENGINE, O-360-A4A (S/N L-11701-36A) INSTALLED ONTO THE AIRFRAME. THE ENGINE RECORDS INDICATED THAT IT WAS OVERHAULED ON 09/01/2023 (TOTAL TIME NOT LISTED). AT 0.66 OPERATING HOURS AFTER THIS OVERHAUL, THE PILOT STATED THAT JUST AS HE ENTERED CRUISE FLIGHT, WITH ALL THE ENGINE PARAMETERS WITHIN NORMAL LIMITS, THEY SUDDIENLY HEARD A LOUD POP AND NOTICED A HOLE ON THE TOPSIDE OF THE COWLING, AND OILS SPRAYED ONTO THE WINDSCREEN.THE PROPELLER IMEDIATELY STOPPED ITS ROTATION. THE PILOT SELECTED A SUITABLE OPEN EMERGENCY LANDING FIELD AND MADE A SUCCEFULL LANDING. WHEN HE EXITED THE AIRCRAFT, HE DISCOVERED THAT THE ENGINE SURFERED INTERNAL STRUCTURAL FAILURE RESULTING IN A 9" X 9" HOLE IN THE ENGINE TOP CASING, PARTIAL SEPARATION OF THE #2 (LEFT FRONT) CYLINDER, DAMAGE TO THE ENGINE COWLINGS AND THE PROPELLER. SDR 2024FA0000065 WAS FILED BY ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ PISTON.

## Other reports on N5120S (1)

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.

- [Incident 19950206003769I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19950206003769I), Feb 6, 1995: Piper PA28180 (N5120S), Emporia, VA. Narrative: on February 6, 1995, the aircraft departed on an IFR flight plan from 2N9 to frg. The aircraft climbed and maintained 7,000 feet. The pilot…

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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