# NTSB CHI69A0035: Piper PA-32, N3271W, St Charles, IL, September 23, 1968

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Closed
- Date: September 23, 1968
- Place: St Charles, IL · ST CHARLES, IL
- Location: 41.9194° N, 88.3107° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of St. Charles, IL, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.9194&lon=-88.3107&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report March 19, 1969
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 192111
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI69A0035
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI69A0035

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-4653  68/9/23    ST CHARLES,ILL      PIPER PA-32         CR-  0  0  1  COMMERCIAL                COMMERCIAL, FL.INSTR.,
        TIME - 0030                    N3271W              PX-  0  0  0  AIR TAXI-PASSG            AGE 28, 2549 TOTAL HOURS,
                                       DAMAGE-SUBSTANTIAL  OT-  0  0  0                            38 IN TYPE, INSTRUMENT
                                                                                                   RATED.
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           ENGINE FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION                            IN FLIGHT: NORMAL CRUISE
           GEAR COLLAPSED                                           LANDING: ROLL
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           POWERPLANT - ENGINE STRUCTURE: VALVE ASSEMBLIES
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - MATERIAL FAILURE
           PERSONNEL - MAINTENANCE,SERVICING,INSPECTION: IMPROPER MAINTENANCE (MAINTENANCE PERSONNEL)
           TERRAIN - ROUGH/UNEVEN
        FACTOR(S)
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - OVERLOAD FAILURE
        COMPLETE POWER LOSS - COMPLETE ENGINE FAILURE/FLAMEOUT-1 ENGINE
        EMERGENCY CIRCUMSTANCES - FORCED LANDING OFF AIRPORT ON LAND
        REMARKS- NO 2 EXHAUST VALVE STEM FAILURE DUE TO EXCESSIVELY WORN VALVE GUIDE.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N3271W](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N3271W-2011-03-03), registration cancelled 2011-03-03, S/N 32-101, built 1965 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-32
- Registry model: [Piper PA-32-260](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-32-260) (registry code 7103206) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-540 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-540-series) (registry code 41532, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage

## Other investigations on N3271W (1)

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 CHI70AC062](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI70AC062), Mar 14, 1970: Piper PA-32 (N3271W), Northbrook, IL, substantial damage

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.

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