# NTSB CEN20LA361: Cessna R182, N639RR, Crowley, LA, August 24, 2020 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report - Date: August 24, 2020, 09:35 local (14:35 UTC) - Place: Crowley, LA - Coordinates: 30.138889, -92.333335 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.1389&lon=-92.3333&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Enroute: Loss of engine power (partial)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 3 - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 101852 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN20LA361 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/101852/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=101852 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN20LA361 ## Probable cause The failure of the No. 4 cylinder exhaust valve that resulted in a partial loss of engine power. Based on available evidence, the reason for the failed valve was not determined. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Engine (reciprocating): recip eng cyl section](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058530): Aircraft › Aircraft power plant · Failure (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna R182, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058530/cases.md?model=2072734), [All aircraft, 373 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058530/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Enroute: Loss of engine power (partial)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna R182, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342/sequence.md?model=2072734), [All aircraft, 1,858 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300); cases with it: [Cessna R182, 8 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=2072734), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Cessna R182, 11 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=2072734), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis About 30 minutes into the aerial observation flight, the engine began "popping" and running rough. The pilot was unable to maintain sufficient engine RPMs and elected to return to the departure airport for a precautionary landing. Based on the airplane's location relative to the runway orientation, the pilot performed a downwind landing. During the approach, the airplane was "a little high and fast;" however, the pilot was committed to the landing due to the reduced engine performance. The airplane touched down, overran the end of the turf runway impacted a ditch and came to rest upright. Both wings and the fuselage sustained substantial damage. Postaccident examination of the engine revealed the No. 4 engine cylinder exhaust valve was stuck which resulted in a bent push rod and partial loss of engine power. Due to damage to the operator's facility and the airplane from hurricane activity, further examination of the engine was not conducted and the reason for the stuck valve was not determined. ## Factual narrative On August 24, 2020, about 0935 central daylight time, a Cessna R182 airplane, N639RR, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Crowley, Louisiana. The pilot was not injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 aerial observation flight. According to the pilot, the preflight engine run-up and takeoff were normal. About 30 minutes into the aerial observation flight, the engine began "popping" and running rough. The pilot was unable to maintain sufficient engine RPMs and elected to return to the departure airport for a precautionary landing. Based on the airplane's location relative to the runway orientation, the pilot performed a downwind landing. During the approach, the airplane was "a little high and fast;" however, the pilot was committed to the landing due to the reduced engine performance. The airplane touched down, overran the end of the turf runway, impacted a ditch and came to rest upright. The pilot reported the airplane sustained substantial damage to both wings and the fuselage. Postaccident examination of the engine by the operator revealed the No. 4 engine cylinder exhaust valve was stuck which resulted in a bent push rod and partial loss of engine power. Following the accident, hurricane activity damaged the operator's facility and the accident airplane, and further examination of the engine was unable to be conducted. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N639RR](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N639RR-2021-11-06), registration cancelled 2021-11-06, S/N R18200245, built 1978 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna R182 (No Series) - Registry model: [Cessna R182](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-r182) (registry code 2072734) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-540 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-540-series) (registry code 41532, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: R18200245 - Year built: 1978 - Airframe hours: 9316.6 - Engines: Lycoming O-540-J3C5D 235 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Aerial observation, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, August 4, 2020, 35 hours before - Departed: LS09, Crowley, LA - Destination: LS09, Crowley, LA - Airport: LS09, AJ Patrol Airport, runway 18, 2,400 × 150 ft, grass/turf - Equipment: ADS-B, Auto-pilot, Onboard weather, Stall warning system ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 31; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review November 21, 2018; seat: left; flight hours: 1,129 total, 692 in this make and model, 1,036 as pilot in command, 223 in the last 90 days, 70 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 40° at 6 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 82 °F, dew point 70 °F - Altimeter: 29.98 inHg - Observed at: IYA, 16 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 20200824019719A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20200824019719A), Aug 24, 2020: Cessna R182, Crowley, LA, Substantial damage. Aircraft departed private airstrip LS09. 30 minutes into the flight the engine began running rough decreasing in performance. Pilot preformed an emergency down… ## Docket (5 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 16, 2020, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=101852. 8.5 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 7.8 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11357090&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=NTSB_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Pilot statement (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 325 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11356814&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Hand%20written%20statment%20082420_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Record of conversation - pilot (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 116 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11376720&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=ROC%20Pilot-Rel.pdf - Record of conversation FAA inspector (item 4, PDF, 1 page, 112 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11356967&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=ROC%20FAA-Rel.pdf - Photo array (item 5, PDF, 2 pages, 200 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11356544&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%20Array-Rel.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. --- 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.