- Date
- August 5, 2021, 20:30 local (Aug 6, 2021, 00:30 UTC)
- Place
- Gosport, IN
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Enroute
- Aircraft
- N6269HPiper J3C-65
- Defining event
- Enroute: Powerplant sys/comp malf/fail
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- Investigation class
- Class 3
- NTSB office
- Central Region
- Parties
- Federal Aviation Administration; Indianapolis FSDO;
- FAA report
- 20210805013449A
- Case key
- 103648
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
A total loss of engine power during cruise flight due to the failure of a cylinder exhaust valve stem, which led to a forced landing during which the airplane impacted terrain.
Findings · 1
NTSB’s coded findings. Those marked are part of the probable cause; the rest are factors or other findings. Under each, the cases with the same finding.
Sequence of events
The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event is the one that best describes the accident. Under each, the cases with the same event anywhere in their sequence.
Analysis
The pilot stated that, during cruise flight, the airplane experienced “significant” vibration, which was followed by a total loss of engine power. The pilot performed a forced landing to a field, during which the airplane nosed over and impacted terrain. Postaccident examination of the airplane engine revealed that the No. 4 cylinder exhaust valve stem was broken at its base and the seat was turned sideways. Pieces of the stem were found in the cylinder. The failure of the exhaust valve resulted in reduced engine compression leading to the total loss of engine power.
Factual narrative
On August 5, 2021, about 2030 eastern daylight time, a Piper J3C-65, N6269H, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Gosport, Indiana. The pilot was not injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The pilot stated that, during cruise flight, the airplane experienced “significant” vibration, which was followed by a total loss of engine power. The pilot performed a forced landing to a field that caused the airplane to nose over and impact terrain, resulting in substantial damage to the rudder and cowling. Postaccident examination of the airplane engine revealed that the No. 4 cylinder exhaust valve stem was broken at its base. The valve seat was turned sideways, and pieces of broken metal were found in the cylinder. The cylinder’s rockers and springs did not exhibit any failure.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N6269H
- Reported as
- Piper J3C-65
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 19449
- Built
- 1946
- Airframe hours
- 3,677
- Engine
- Continental A-65-8, 65 hp, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · September 3, 2020
- Departed
- 0I2 · Brazil, IN
- Destination
- IG03 · Paragon, IN
- Equipment
- None
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
- 61
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Unknown
- Restraint
- Lap only
- Flight hours
- 1,425 total
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- Calm
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 77 °F, dew point 64 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.08 inHg
- Observed at
- BMG, 15 nm away
Docket · 3
The files NTSB released with the investigation on November 16, 2022, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 4.7 MB in all.
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.