# NTSB CHI02LA246: Piper PA-28-140, N6345W, Roodhouse, IL, August 11, 2002 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 10, 2002, 20:30 local (Aug 11, 2002, 01:30 UTC) - Place: Roodhouse, IL - Coordinates: 39.479267, -90.369155 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.4793&lon=-90.3692&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report September 30, 2003 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Federal Aviation Adminstration - NTSB case key (mKey): 55477 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI02LA246 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/55477/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=55477 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI02LA246 ## Probable cause The loss of engine power due to the separation of a valve lifter. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(total) - mech failure/malf, cruise - engine assembly,valve lifter - separation (cause) - Forced landing, descent - emergency - In flight collision with terrain/water, emergency landing - terrain condition - open field - unsuitable terrain or takeoff/landing/taxi area (cause) ## Analysis The airplane was substantially damaged during a forced landing on a corn field after a partial loss of engine power. Inspection the engine revealed a hole in the engine case near the front left cylinder area. The lifter had exited the engine and the valves were damaged. ## Factual narrative On August 10, 2002, at 2030 central daylight time, a Piper PA-28-140, owned and piloted by a private pilot, was substantially damaged during an emergency landing in a corn field located three miles northeast of Roodhouse, Illinois. The pilot reported that the engine experienced a partial loss of engine power during cruise flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight was not operating on a flight plan. The pilot and pilot-rated passenger reported no injuries. The flight departed from the Jacksonville Municipal Airport, Jacksonville, Illinois, at 2015, en route to the Creve Coeur Airport, St. Louis, Missouri. The pilot sat in the right seat with the intention of acting as a safety pilot for the left seat pilot. While in level flight at 3,000 feet mean sea level and about 18 miles from the departure airport, the airplane experienced a sudden loss of power, a drop in engine rpm to 2,000 rpm, and intense shaking. The right seat pilot then checked the magnetos, applied carburetor heat, varied the throttle and mixture controls. The left seat pilot then turned the fuel pump on, switched tanks, and trimmed for an airspeed of 80 mph. The right seat pilot checked his handheld GPS for the nearest airport, but found none. Both pilots then began to notice blue flashes and smoke coming from the cowling. Smoke began to fill the cabin. The right seat pilot called out 'engine shutdown' and retarded the mixture control to 'idle cutoff'. The left seat pilot turned the fuel selector to the 'off' position. The left seat pilot then transferred controls to the right seat pilot and shut the master switch off. The right seat pilot then committed to landing on a field that he saw earlier and then set up a circling approach over it. During the turn to final, the right seat pilot opened the cabin door and once the landing was assured (about 1/4 mile final) he set full flaps and began to slow the airplane down. About 25-50 feet above the ground, the left seat pilot turned the master switch and landing light on to illuminate the landing area. Upon touchdown, the left seat pilot turned off the master switch. The airplane landing in a field of mature corn about 1/2 mile long in the landing direction and 1/3 mile wide. The landing direction was parallel to the corn rows. Inspection of the engine revealed a hole in the engine case near the front left cylinder area. According to a mechanic, the lifter had exited the engine. The airplane was powered by a Lycoming O-320-E2A, serial number L-14508-27A engine rated at 150 horsepower. The engine had a total time of 2,919 hours, 1,719 hours since a major overhaul, and 25 hours since its last inspection which occurred on July 3, 2002. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N6345W](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N6345W-2013-08-19), registration cancelled 2013-08-19, S/N 28-20403, built 1964 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Piper PA-28-140 - Registry model: [Piper PA-28-140](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-140) (registry code 7102802) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 28-20403 - Airframe hours: 2919 - Engines: Lycoming O-320-E2A 150 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Douglas Keenan - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility; Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, July 3, 2002, 25 hours before - Departed: IJX, Jacksonville, IL - Destination: 1H0, Creve Coeur, MO ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 27; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; last flight review February 3, 2002; seat: right; flight hours: 175 total, 128 in this make and model, 107 as pilot in command, 60 in the last 90 days, 28 in the last 30 days, 5 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Dusk - Wind: 110° at 3 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 75 °F, dew point 70 °F - Altimeter: 29.97 inHg ## 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 20020810017539A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20020810017539A), Aug 10, 2002: Piper PA28140, Roodhouse, IL, Substantial damage. (.19) On August 10, 2002, at 2030 central daylight time, a Piper PA-28-140, owned and piloted by a private pilot, was substantially damaged during an emergency… ## Other investigations on N6345W (2) 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. - [NTSB OAK67D0174](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/OAK67D0174), Dec 3, 1966: Piper PA-28 (N6345W), Red Top, CA, substantial damage - [NTSB OAK66D0276](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/OAK66D0276), Apr 23, 1966: Piper PA-28 (N6345W), Turlock, CA, substantial damage ## Docket (1 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on July 21, 2003, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=55477. 412 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 412 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40469753&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.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.