# NTSB ATL05LA001: Stinson 108, N40129, Ashland, AL, October 2, 2004 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: October 2, 2004, 09:00 local (14:00 UTC) - Place: Ashland, AL - Coordinates: 33.287498, -85.803886 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.2875&lon=-85.8039&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 3 minor, 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report June 8, 2005 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Birmingham FSDO-09 - NTSB case key (mKey): 60256 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL05LA001 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/60256/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL05LA001 ## Probable cause A total loss of engine power in cruise flight due to the fatigue failure of the No.4 cylinder exhaust valve. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(partial) - mech failure/malf, cruise - engine assembly,valve,exhaust - fatigue (cause) - engine assembly,valve,exhaust - failure (cause) - Forced landing, descent - emergency - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - emergency - object - tree(s) - terrain condition - none suitable - terrain condition - ground ## Analysis The pilot stated they were in cruise flight at 2,500 feet with a private pilot flying the airplane. The engine began to run rough and shudder. The pilot stated, "I have the controls" and the private pilot responded, "you have the controls." The pilot looked for a forced landing area and observed a country road and a field. He completed the emergency checklist and entered a downwind to land on the highway. He turned base and observed power poles, but he could not see any power lines running between the poles and decided to land in the field. He made a left 35-degree turn towards a field and propeller struck a tree, yawed to the left colliding with the ground separating the landing gear and bending the engine firewall. Examination of the engine assembly revealed the exhaust valve in the No.4 cylinder had failed. Examination of the exhaust valve revealed fatigue cracks had propagated from opposite sides of the stem adjacent to the beginning of the radius between the stem and the valve head. ## Factual narrative On October 2, 2004, at 0900 central daylight time, a Stinson 108, N40129, registered to and operated by a private owner, as a 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight collided with trees during a forced landing to unsuitable terrain following a loss of engine power near Ashland, Alabama. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. The airplane received substantial damage. The airline transport rated pilot, private pilot passenger, and one rear seat passenger reported minor injuries. The remaining rear seat passenger reported no injuries. The flight originated from Birmingham, Alabama on October 2, 2004, at 0835. The pilot stated they were in cruise flight at 2,500 feet MSL with a private pilot flying the airplane. The engine began to run rough and shudder. The pilot stated, "I have the controls" and the private pilot responded, "you have the controls." The pilot looked for a forced landing area and observed a country road and a field. He completed the emergency checklist and entered a downwind to land on the highway. He turned base and observed power poles, but he could not see any power lines running between the poles and decided to land in the field. He made a left 35-degree turn towards a field and propeller struck a tree, yawed to the left colliding with the ground separating the landing gear and bending the engine firewall. Examination of the engine assembly revealed the exhaust valve in the No.4 cylinder had failed. The No. 4 cylinder and exhaust valve were forwarded to the NTSB Materials Laboratory for further analysis. Examination of the exhaust valve revealed fatigue cracks had propagated from opposite sides of the stem adjacent to the beginning of the radius between the stem and the valve head. The No. 4 cylinder and exhaust valve was returned to the registered owner on January 24, 2005. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N40129](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N40129-2007-08-11), registration cancelled 2007-08-11, S/N 108-59, built 1946 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Stinson 108 - Registry model: [Stinson 108](https://openairdocs.org/model/stinson-108) (registry code 9230402) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Franklin 6A4150 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/franklin-6a4150-series) (registry code 27024, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 108-59 - Engines: Franklin GA4-150 B3 150 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: James R. Brandt - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, September 3, 2004, 6 hours before - Departed: BHM, Birmingham, AL - Destination: 26A, Ashland, AL ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 54; injuries: minor; commercial, airline transport, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review May 20, 2004; seat: right; flight hours: 9,387 total, 55 in this make and model, 7,833 as pilot in command, 74 in the last 90 days, 22 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 7 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 73 °F, dew point 63 °F - Altimeter: 30.21 inHg - Observed at: ANB, 29 nm away ## 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 20041002024869A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20041002024869A), Oct 2, 2004: Univar 108, Ashland, AL, Substantial damage. (-23) While on a flight to Ashland, AL (26A) at 2500 MSL, the pilot of N40129 lost power and picked out an emergency landing field. The aircraft hit a small… 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.