# NTSB ATL82DA126: Piper PA-28R-180, N4903J, Front Royal, VA, May 6, 1982

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Final report
- Date: May 6, 1982, 16:45 local (20:45 UTC)
- Place: Front Royal, VA
- Location: 38.9175° N, 78.2534° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs at FRONT ROYAL-WARREN COUNTY (FRR), within about a mile (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.9175&lon=-78.2534&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious, 1 minor
- Status: Completed, report May 6, 1983
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 70768
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL82DA126
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/70768/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL82DA126

## 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 - normal
  - exhaust system,stack - cracked (cause)
  - exhaust system - leak (cause)
  - exhaust system,stack - failure,total (cause)
- Forced landing, descent
  - object - wire,transmission(marked) (contributing factor)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, landing - flare/touchdown
  - distance - misjudged, pilot in command (cause)
  - descent - misjudged, pilot in command (cause)

## Analysis

DURING FLIGHT THE AIRCRAFT ENGINE DEVELOPED A NOISE WHICH THE PILOT DESCRIBED AS A HISSING. THE PILOT DECLARED AN EMERGENCY, WAS VECTORED TO THE NEAREST AIRPORT, AND PROCEEDED TO SHUT OFF THE ENGINE AT 5000 FEET WHEN OVER THE AIRPORT. DURING THE FORCED LANDING THE AIRPLANE WAS FLOWN BENEATH ELECTRICAL TRANSMISSION WIRES LOCATED NEAR THE RUNWAY THRESHOLD AND IMPACTED APPROXIMATELY 200 YARDS SHORT OF THE RUNWAY. APPROXIMATELY 1/2 INCH OF THE NUMBER 1 EXHAUST RISER WAS FOUND ATTACHED TO THE CYLINDER WITH THE REMAINDER LYING IN THE ENGINE COWL LOWER SECTION. EXAMINATION REVEALED SOOT DEPOSITS ON THE ENGINE COWL ADJACENT TO THE NUMBER 1 ENGINE EXHAUST RISER. A LIGHT BROWN DISCOLORATION WAS OBSERVED ON THE NUMBER ONE CYLINDER LOWER SPARK PLUG AND THE FRACTURE SURFACES OF THE SEPARATED NUMBER 1 EXHAUST RISER. THE PIPER AIRCRAFT CORPORATION INDICATED THAT MISALIGNMENT OF THE CYLINDER HEAD COULD RESULT IN A CRACKED STACK ASSEMBLY IMMEDIATELY BELOW THE STACK ASSEMBLY FLANGE.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N4903J](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4903J-1984-07-12), registration cancelled 1984-07-12, S/N 28R30621 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28R-180
- Registry model: [Piper PA-28R-180](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28r-180) (registry code 7102809) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 28R-30621
- Airframe hours: 2463
- Engines: LYCOMING IO-360-B1E 180 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Business, Part 91
- Operator: Ralph Joseph Hubert
- Registered owner: Ralph Joseph Hubert
- Departed: GAI, GAITHERSBURG, MD
- Destination: BPI, BLACKSBURG, VA
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: FRR, Front Royal-Warren Co, runway 9, 3,000 × 50 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 57; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; flight hours: 2,000 total, 1,600 in this make and model

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 210° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Temperature: 165 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: CHO, 50 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 19820506014079A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19820506014079A), May 6, 1982: Piper PA28R180, Front Royal, VA, Substantial damage. Hissing noise from engine over airport at 6000 feet. Landed short in trees. Leaky exhaust riser. Annual overdue.

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.

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