# NTSB CEN21LA359: Piper J3C-65, N6269H, Gosport, IN, August 6, 2021

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report
- Date: August 5, 2021, 20:30 local (Aug 6, 2021, 00:30 UTC)
- Place: Gosport, IN
- Coordinates: 39.34891, -86.66797 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.3489&lon=-86.6680&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Enroute: Powerplant sys/comp malf/fail](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/340)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Investigation class: Class 3
- NTSB office: Central Region
- Parties: Federal Aviation Administration; Indianapolis FSDO;
- NTSB case key (mKey): 103648
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN21LA359
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/103648/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=103648
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN21LA359

## 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

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

- [Engine (reciprocating)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058500): Aircraft › Aircraft power plant · Failure (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper J3C-65, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058500/cases.md?model=7100510), [All aircraft, 497 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058500/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

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

- [Enroute: Powerplant sys/comp malf/fail](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/340) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper J3C-65, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/340/sequence.md?model=7100510), [All aircraft, 820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/340/sequence.md)
- [Enroute: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341); cases with it: [Piper J3C-65, 16 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=7100510), [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md)
- [Landing: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440); cases with it: [Piper J3C-65, 17 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=7100510), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md)
- [Landing: Collision during takeoff/land](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490); cases with it: [Piper J3C-65, 11 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490/sequence.md?model=7100510), [All aircraft, 1,309 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490/sequence.md)

## 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](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N6269H), registered now, S/N 19449, built 1946 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER J3C-65
- Registry model: [Piper J3C-65](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-j3c-65) (registry code 7100510) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental A&C65 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-a-c65-series) (registry code 17003, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 19449
- Year built: 1946
- Airframe hours: 3677
- Engines: 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

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 61; injuries: none; 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

## 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 20210805013449A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20210805013449A), Aug 5, 2021: Piper J3C-65, Gosport, IN, Substantial damage. On August 5, 2021, at approximately 2000 eastern daylight time, a Piper J3C aircraft, N6269H, landed in a bean field approximately five miles northwest of…

## Docket (3 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on November 16, 2022, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=103648. 4.7 MB in all.

- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 6 pages, 4.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13725725&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120%20Master%202_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Record of correspondence - FAA (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 106 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13726202&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=RECORD%20OF%20CORRESPONDENCE%20-%20FAA-Rel.pdf
- Photo log (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 603 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13725579&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%20Log-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.