# NTSB CEN10LA531: Piper PA-28-161, N3560B, Buchanan, MI, September 9, 2010

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: September 9, 2010, 12:51 local (16:51 UTC)
- Place: Buchanan, MI
- Coordinates: 41.867221, -86.296943 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.8672&lon=-86.2969&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Enroute-climb to cruise: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report August 22, 2011
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Central Region
- Parties: FAA-SBN-FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 77248
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN10LA531
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/77248/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=77248
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN10LA531

## Probable cause

A failure of the engine's No. 3 and No. 4 cylinder valve lifters for undetermined reasons, which resulted in a total loss of engine power.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Engine (reciprocating): recip engine power section](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058520): Aircraft › Aircraft power plant · Failure (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-161, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058520/cases.md?model=7102803), [All aircraft, 233 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058520/cases.md)
- [Terrain: rough terrain](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021015): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome; cases with it: [Piper PA-28-161, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021015/cases.md?model=7102803), [All aircraft, 442 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021015/cases.md)
- [Not determined](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000): Not determined › Not determined · Unknown/Not determined (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-161, 14 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md?model=7102803), [All aircraft, 2,247 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Enroute-climb to cruise: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-161, 22 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=7102803), [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md)
- [Landing-flare/touchdown: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-161, 58 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=7102803), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md)

## Analysis

While in cruise flight at 3,000 feet above mean sea level (msl) the engine lost all power. The pilot executed a forced landing in a corn field. A postaccident inspection of the engine revealed the heads on the No. 3 cylinder intake valve lifter and the No. 4 cylinder intake valve lifter were fractured with a portion of the head separated. The entire head of the No.4 cylinder exhaust valve lifter was separated from the lifter body and the fractured surface on the body was completely smeared from impact damage. The extensive damage to the No. 4 cylinder exhaust valve likely indicated it was the first failure in the sequence; however, the damage precluded a determination of the failure mode. Six pieces of the separated sections from the remaining valve lifter heads were found inside the crankcase. Their fractured surfaces did not show any indications of fatigue. The engine had accumulated 1,637 hours since the overhaul. Reconditioned lifters were installed on the engine during the overhaul.

## Factual narrative

On September 9, 2010, at 1251 eastern daylight time, a Piper PA-28-161, N3560B, collided with the terrain during an off airport forced landing following a loss of engine power near Buchanan, Michigan. The pilot was not injured. The airplane was substantially damaged. The airplane was operated by Donnair Aviation. The 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 flight was operating in visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. The last leg of the flight originated from the Dowagiac Municipal Airport (C91), Dowagiac, Michigan, at 1242. The pilot reported he departed Valparaiso, Indiana, and flew to C91 where he made a touch and go landing. He then climbed to an altitude of 3,000 feet above mean sea level (msl) for the flight back to Valparaiso. The pilot stated he turned the fuel pump on, switched fuel tanks, and turned the fuel pump back off. About 11 minutes later, the engine lost all power and the propeller stopped rotating. The pilot made an off airport forced landing in a corn field. The nose gear was pushed back into the firewall and the right wing was pulled away from the fuselage during the landing. The airplane was equipped with a Lycoming O-320-D3G engine, serial number L-8748-39A. The engine was overhauled in September 2005, and it had accumulated 1,637 hours since the overhaul. The total time on the engine was 6,987.9 hours. Reconditioned lifters were installed on the airplane during the engine overhaul. A postaccident inspection of the engine revealed the head of the #4 cylinder exhaust valve lifter was separated from the lifter body. The fractured surface of lifter body was completely smeared from impact damage. The heads on the #3 cylinder intake valve lifter, the #4 cylinder intake valve lifter, and the #4 cylinder exhaust valve lifter were all fractured with a portion of the head separated. Six pieces of the separated sections from the valve lifter heads were found inside the crankcase. The fractured surfaces, when examined by the investigator in charge under a 10X magnifier, did not show any indications of fatigue.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N3560B](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N3560B-2011-03-21), registration cancelled 2011-03-21, S/N 28-8016182, built 1979 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28-161
- Registry model: [Piper PA-28-161](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-161) (registry code 7102803) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 28-8016182
- Airframe hours: 11058
- Engines: LYCOMING O-320-D3G 160 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Donnair Aviation
- Registered owner: Dvs Corp
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, September 1, 2010, 8 hours before
- Departed: C91, Dowagiac, MI
- Destination: VPZ, Valparasio, IN

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 64; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review July 9, 2009; seat: left; flight hours: 521 total, 521 in this make and model, 12 in the last 90 days, 7 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 0° at 0 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 3,900 ft broken
- Temperature: 64 °F, dew point 46 °F
- Altimeter: 30.13 inHg
- Observed at: SBN, 11 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 20100909046479A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20100909046479A), Sep 9, 2010: Piper PA-28-161, Niles, MI, Substantial damage. Aircraft experienced a sudden engine stoppage due to a mechanical interruption during cruise flight resulting in a forced landing. Engine teardown revealed…

## Docket (19 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 22, 2011, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=77248.

- Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 346 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40348295&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF
- Pilot Statement (item 2, .PDF, 31 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40348296&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%20Statement-Redacted.PDF
- Record of Conversation (item 3, .PDF, 53 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40348889&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation-Master.PDF
- Maintenance Records (item 4, .PDF, 137 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40349043&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Maintenance%20Records-Redacted.PDF
- Release of Aircraft Wreckage, NTSB Form 6120.15 (item 5, .PDF, 31 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40350729&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Release%20of%20Aircraft%20Wreckage,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.15-Redacted.PDF
- Photo 01. #3 Cylinder Lifters in Crankcase (item 6, .PDF, 687 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40349014&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%2001.%20%233%20Cylinder%20Lifters%20in%20Crankcase-Master.PDF
- Photo 02. #3 Cylinder Exhaust Valve Lifter (item 7, .PDF, 386 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40349015&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%2002.%20%233%20Cylinder%20Exhaust%20Valve%20Lifter-Master.PDF
- Photo 03. #3 Cylinder Exhaust Valve Lifter (item 8, .PDF, 252 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40349016&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%2003.%20%233%20Cylinder%20Exhaust%20Valve%20Lifter-Master.PDF
- Photo 04. #3 Cylinder Exhaust Valve Lifter (item 9, .PDF, 304 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40349017&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%2004.%20%233%20Cylinder%20Exhaust%20Valve%20Lifter-Master.PDF
- Photo 05. #3 Cylinder Intake Valve Lifter (item 10, .PDF, 393 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40349019&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%2005.%20%233%20Cylinder%20Intake%20Valve%20Lifter-Master.PDF
- Photo 06. #3 Cylinder Intake Valve Lifter (item 11, .PDF, 257 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40349020&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%2006.%20%233%20Cylinder%20Intake%20Valve%20Lifter-Master.PDF
- Photo 07. #3 Cylinder Intake Valve Lifter (item 12, .PDF, 304 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40349021&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%2007.%20%233%20Cylinder%20Intake%20Valve%20Lifter-Master.PDF
- Photo 08. #4 Cylinder Valve Lifters in the Crankcase (item 13, .PDF, 994 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40349024&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%2008.%20%234%20Cylinder%20Valve%20Lifters%20in%20the%20Crankcase-Master.PDF
- Photo 09. #4 Cylinder Exhaust Valve Lifter (item 14, .PDF, 404 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40349025&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%2009.%20%234%20Cylinder%20Exhaust%20Valve%20Lifter-Master.PDF
- Photo 10. #4 Cylinder Exhaust Valve Lifter (item 15, .PDF, 341 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40349027&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%2010.%20%234%20Cylinder%20Exhaust%20Valve%20Lifter-Master.PDF
- Photo 11. #4 Cylinder Intake Valve Lifter (item 16, .PDF, 389 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40349028&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%2011.%20%234%20Cylinder%20Intake%20Valve%20Lifter-Master.PDF
- Photo 12. #4 Cylinder Intake Valve Lifter (item 17, .PDF, 378 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40349029&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%2012.%20%234%20Cylinder%20Intake%20Valve%20Lifter-Master.PDF
- Photo 13. #4 Cylinder Intake Valve Lifter (item 18, .PDF, 303 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40349030&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%2013.%20%234%20Cylinder%20Intake%20Valve%20Lifter-Master.PDF
- Photo 14. Pieces of valve lifter heads. (item 19, .PDF): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40349031&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%2014.%20Pieces%20of%20valve%20lifter%20heads.-Master.PDF

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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