# NTSB CEN22LA309: Cessna 172M, N5177H, Friend, NE, July 8, 2022 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report - Date: July 7, 2022, 19:15 local (Jul 8, 2022, 00:15 UTC) - Place: Friend, NE - Coordinates: 40.69, -97.22 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.6900&lon=-97.2200&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Enroute-cruise: Powerplant sys/comp malf/fail](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/340) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 3 - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration, Lincoln FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 105434 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN22LA309 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/105434/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=105434 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN22LA309 ## Probable cause A loss of engine power due to a stuck valve. ## 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 · Malfunction (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172M, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058530/cases.md?model=2072418), [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-cruise: Powerplant sys/comp malf/fail](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/340) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 172M, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/340/sequence.md?model=2072418), [All aircraft, 820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/340/sequence.md) - [Enroute-climb to cruise: Loss of engine power (partial)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342); cases with it: [Cessna 172M, 16 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342/sequence.md?model=2072418), [All aircraft, 1,858 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342/sequence.md) - [Emergency descent: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440); cases with it: [Cessna 172M, 28 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=2072418), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md) - [Landing: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Cessna 172M, 100 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=2072418), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot stated that he noticed a slight hesitation in the engine, followed by backfiring and a large drop in engine speed while in cruise flight at 2,000 ft above ground level. He was able to regain partial power for a few minutes before the engine lost additional power. The pilot performed a forced landing between two corn fields, where the airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage due to impact with terrain. Postaccident testing of the engine revealed a stuck exhaust valve on the No. 2 cylinder that resulted in the loss of engine power during cruise flight. No other anomalies were noted with the engine or related systems that would have precluded normal operations of the engine. Thus, the stuck exhaust valve likely resulted in the partial loss of engine power. ## Factual narrative On July 7, 2022, at 1915 central daylight time, a Cessna 172M, N5177H, sustained substantial damage when it was involved in an accident near Friend, Nebraska. The pilot and a passenger were uninjured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The pilot stated that the engine sustained a slight hesitation followed by backfiring and a large drop in engine speed during cruise flight at 2,000 ft above ground level. The pilot reported he switched fuel tanks, checked carburetor heat, switched magnetos, and was able to restore partial power for a few minutes by adjusting the throttle. The engine then "lost all power again." Attempts to restore power with throttle control movement were unsuccessful. The engine then lost additional power and the pilot performed a forced landing between two corn fields. The airplane’s right wing impacted corn stalks and spun the airplane around during the landing. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage. During a postaccident engine run, the engine missed and an external temperature measurement of the No. 2 cylinder assembly revealed a relatively colder temperature than that of the other cylinder assemblies. The pilot attributed the engine missing and low cylinder assembly temperature to a sticking exhaust valve. No other anomalies were noted with the engine that would have precluded normal operations. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N5177H](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N5177H), registered now, S/N 17265361, built 1975 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 172M - Registry model: [Cessna 172M](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172m) (registry code 2072418) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 17265361 - Year built: 1975 - Airframe hours: 3700 - Engines: Lycoming O-320-E2D 150 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, June 15, 2022 - Departed: 0F4, Loup City, NE - Destination: CEK, Crete, NE ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 63; injuries: none; airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: helicopter, airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review November 3, 2021; seat: right; flight hours: 20,000 total, 1,000 in this make and model, 10,000 as pilot in command, 23 in the last 90 days, 11 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 120° at 7 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 6,000 ft overcast - Temperature: 82 °F, dew point 73 °F - Altimeter: 29.90 inHg - Observed at: LNK, 26 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 20220707006919A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20220707006919A), Jul 7, 2022: Cessna 172M, Friend, NE, Substantial damage. Aircraft departed loup city NE in route to crete NE. While enroute near the town of Friend NE the engine lost power at 2000 AGL. The engine remained running;… ## Docket (6 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on April 25, 2024, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=105434. 1.1 GB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 2.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14270849&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120%20Master_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Memorandum of record - FAA (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 63 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15367466&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=MOR-Rel.pdf - Photo log (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 347 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15368342&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%20Log-Rel.pdf - Engine run video 1 of 2 (item 4, MOV, 308 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16635518&FileExtension=MOV&FileName=IMG_0354%20(1)-Rel.MOV - Engine run video 2 of 2 (item 5, MOV, 154 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16636614&FileExtension=MOV&FileName=IMG_0355%20(1)-Rel.MOV - Aircraft logbooks (item 6, PDF, 12 pages, 665 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16636966&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Aircraft%20Logbooks%20Master_Redacted-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.