# NTSB ANC94LA061: Piper PA-20, N6174D, Anchorage, AK, May 28, 1994 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: May 28, 1994, 14:35 local (22:35 UTC) - Place: Anchorage, AK - Coordinates: 70.099899, -149.870056 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=70.0999&lon=-149.8701&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report January 25, 1995 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 2505 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC94LA061 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/2505/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC94LA061 ## Probable cause THE FAILURE OF AN EXHAUST VALVE. THE LACK OF SUITABLE TERRAIN FOR A FORCED LANDING WAS A FACTOR. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(total) - mech failure/malf, takeoff - initial climb - engine assembly,valve,exhaust - failure,total (cause) - Forced landing, descent - emergency - Ditching, descent - emergency - terrain condition - none suitable (cause) - terrain condition - water ## Analysis THE PILOT EXECUTED A FORCED LANDING AFTER AN EXHAUST VALVE FAILED AND WAS INGESTED INTO THE CYLINDER SHORTLY AFTER TAKEOFF. A RETURN TO THE AIRPORT WAS NOT POSSIBLE. AIRPORT CONGESTION AND BUILDINGS LIMITED EMERGENCY LANDING AREAS AND THE PILOT COMPLETED A DITCHING IN A SWAMPY AREA ADJACENT TO AIRPORT FIRE STATION. ## Factual narrative On May 28, 1994, at 1435 Alaska daylight time, a wheel equipped Piper PA-20 airplane, N6174D, experienced a total power loss during departure climb from Anchorage International Airport. The private pilot executed a forced landing in a swampy area beside the airport crash-fire station, where the plane's landing roll was arrested by the station's chain link fence. The flight was conducted under 14 CFR Part 91 in visual meteorological conditions for personal reasons on a flight from Anchorage to a beach location near Trading Bay on Cook Inlet. No flight plan was on file. The pilot and his passenger were uninjured, however the airplane sustained substantial damage. The pilot stated that the engine began to run rough during climb at 500 feet altitude. He said that he requested an immediate landing at the Lake Hood strip, east of the Anchorage departure runways, however during the turn to that landing the engine experienced total loss of power and the forced landing in the swampy area was necessitated. An external examination of the engine revealed a failure of a cylinder on the O-320 engine had occurred. Upon teardown examination, a failure of an exhaust valve at the stem, and it's subsequent ingestion, was apparent. The private pilot had approximately 3000 hours pilot experience in type and one hundred in the previous 90 day. He was able to execute a precision forced landing to a swamp area less than 200 feet in length and utilize an chain-link fence as an arresting barrier. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N6174D](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N6174D), registered now, S/N 22-4821, built 1957 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA-20 - Registry model: [Piper PA-22-150](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-22-150) (registry code 7102210) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 22-4821 - Airframe hours: 5000 - Engines: LYCOMING O-320 150 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Robert Gaines - Registered owner: Robert Gaines - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, September 16, 1993, 250 hours before - Destination: TRADING BAY, AK - Airport: ANC, Anchorage International, runway 32, 10,496 × 150 ft, grass/turf ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 46; private; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: front; flight hours: 6,000 total, 3,000 in this make and model, 5,500 as pilot in command, 100 in the last 90 days, 25 in the last 30 days, 5 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 320° at 5 knots - Visibility: 30 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 61 °F, dew point 50 °F ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 19940528025179A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19940528025179A), May 28, 1994: Piper STCPA20, Anchorage, AK, Substantial damage. Power loss on climbout. Struck a chain link fence. Engine had swallowed a valve. ## Other investigations on N6174D (2) From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. - [NTSB ANC05LA044](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC05LA044), Feb 27, 2005: Piper PA-22 (N6174D), Anchorage, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's excessive taxi speed during a turn while taxiing from landing, which resulted in the collapse of the left main landing gear, and structural damage to the fuselage. - [NTSB MIA80FKG21](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA80FKG21), Mar 19, 1980: Piper PA-22 (N6174D), Register, GA, substantial damage From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.