- Date
- September 9, 1993, 15:30 local (19:30 UTC)
- Place
- N. Myrtle Beach, SC
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Maneuvering
- Aircraft
- N2437ECessna 172
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report August 17, 1994
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19930909041839A
- Case key
- 3258
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The failure of the engine exhaust valve which resulted in the loss of engine power. The soft terrain in the landing area was a factor.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
The pilot reported a loss of engine power during an aerial patrol flight. He attempted an off airport landing in a field. The aircraft nose gear sheared off in the soft terrain and the aircraft nosed over. Examination of the engine revealed that the number one exhaust valve had failed, resulting in the loss of engine power.
Factual narrative
On September 9, 1993, about 1530 eastern daylight time a Cessna 172, N2347E, collapsed the nose landing gear during a forced landing near North Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. The airplane was operated by Bentco Aerial Patrol under 14 CFR Part 91 and visual flight rules. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. A flight plan was not filed for the power line patrol flight. The commercial pilot was not injured and the airplane was substantially damaged. Origination of the flight was Athens, Georgia, about 1400 on the same day.
The pilot reported that the engine lost power. A forced landing was made in a field. During the landing roll, the nose gear collapsed and the airplane nosed over.
Examination of the aircraft engine revealed that the number one exhaust valve had failed. The valve head was found in the engine crankcase, and there was metal contamination found in the valve cover of the number one cylinder.
The aircraft owner failed to respond to the request for completion of NTSB Form 6120.1/2, Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report.(See Attached letter of Request and Receipt for Certified Document.)
Aircraft
- Registration
- N2437E
- Reported as
- Cessna 172
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 17271282
- Airframe hours
- 11,734
- Engine
- Lycoming O-320-H2AD, 160 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Other work use · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Brentco Aerial Patrol, Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · August 26, 1993
- Departed
- 52A · Madison, GA
- Destination
- CRE · Myrtle Beach, SC
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 51
- Certificates
- Commercial, Flight instructor
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 6,241 total · 4,000 in this make and model · 297 in the last 90 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 190° at 4 knots
- Visibility
- 7 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 86 °F, dew point 75 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.00 inHg
- Observed at
- CRE, 3 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.
Other investigations on N2437E · 1
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.