# NTSB CEN23LA027: Cessna R172E, N6051U, Aguilar, CO, November 5, 2022 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report - Date: November 5, 2022, 08:21 local (14:21 UTC) - Place: Aguilar, CO - Coordinates: 37.401634, -104.65559 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.4016&lon=-104.6556&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: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 3 - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration; Denver FSDO - ADs cited in the narratives: [AD 2009-26-12](https://openairdocs.org/ad/2009-26-12) (OpenAirDocs) - NTSB case key (mKey): 106255 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN23LA027 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/106255/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=106255 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN23LA027 ## Probable cause Failure of the engine cylinder assembly, which resulted in a loss of engine power during cruise flight and an impact with a fence during the forced landing. ## 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) - [Object/animal/substance: fence/fence post](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022047): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome (probable cause) ## Analysis The pilot of the personal flight stated that while the airplane was in cruise flight, he felt a pop or shudder. The airplane began to shake, and oil began to cover the windshield. The airplane lost engine power and the pilot then performed a forced landing to a field, during which it struck a fence. The airplane sustained substantial damage to both wings. Postaccident examination of the engine revealed that the engine’s No. 2 cylinder head was cracked. There were no other mechanical anomalies that would have precluded normal airplane operation. ## Factual narrative On November 5, 2022, about 0821 mountain daylight time, a Cessna R172E, N6051U, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Aguilar, Colorado. The private pilot was uninjured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The pilot stated that he climbed the airplane from 9,000 ft mean sea level (msl) to 10,000 ft msl to overfly Raton Pass and Fischer Peak, Colorado. He encountered wind shear and high turbulence and simultaneously felt a pop or shudder. The airplane started to shake, and oil began to cover the windshield. He then performed a forced landing to a field, during which the airplane struck a fence. The airplane sustained substantial damage to both wings. Postaccident examination of the engine by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed that the engine’s No. 2 cylinder head was cracked. The cylinder head and barrel assembly, with 358.9 hours since new, was manufactured by Engine Components International and was subject to airworthiness directive (AD) 2009-26-12, which requires initial and repetitive visual inspections and compression tests to detect cracks at the head-to-barrel interface. The last cylinder compression check was performed in July 2022 and its pressure tested at 70 psi. There were no other mechanical anomalies that would have precluded normal airplane operation. ## 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) - [Landing: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470) ## Aircraft - Registration: [N6051U](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N6051U), registered now, S/N R172-0183 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA R172E - Registry model: [Cessna R172E](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-r172e) (registry code 2072413) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: R172-0183 - Airframe hours: 9497 - Engines: Lycoming O-360-A1A reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, July 1, 2022 - Departed: LVS, Las Vegas, NV - Destination: FLY, Peyton, CO - Equipment: Electronic flight bag or handheld device, ADS-B ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 48; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review January 25, 2020; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 246 total, 246 in this make and model, 246 as pilot in command, 12 in the last 90 days, 10 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 250° at 11 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 34 °F, dew point 21 °F - Altimeter: 29.72 inHg - Observed at: TAD, 13 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 20221105020079A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20221105020079A), Nov 5, 2022: Cessna R172E, Aguilar, CO, Substantial damage. Accident aircraft departed klvs. In the vicinity of raton pass and fischer peak the pilot experienced turbulence at 100' and made a descent to 090'. The flight… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on March 20, 2024, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=106255. 2.9 MB 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=16451791&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120%20Master_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Memorandum of correspondence - FAA (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 64 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16453911&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=MOR%20FAA-Rel.pdf - Photos (item 3, PDF, 2 pages, 782 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16453760&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%20Template-Rel.pdf From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date; 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.