# NTSB CHI96LA015: Piper PA-28-140, N6932W, Ocie, MO, October 21, 1995 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: October 21, 1995, 17:00 local (22:00 UTC) - Place: Ocie, MO - Coordinates: 36.600708, -92.420211 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.6007&lon=-92.4202&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 2 serious - Status: Completed, report April 18, 1996 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 10138 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI96LA015 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/10138/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI96LA015 ## Probable cause failure of the number three exhaust valve. ## 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,exhaust - failure (cause) - Forced landing, emergency descent/landing - In flight collision with object, emergency landing - object - tree(s) - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled ## Analysis THE PILOT STATED THE AIRPLANE WAS IN CRUISE FLIGHT AT 6,500 FEET MEAN SEA LEVEL WHEN THE AIRPLANE'S ENGINE 'BEGAN TO RUN ROUGH, THEN LOSE POWER.' THE PILOT 'SELECTED A FIELD FOR EMERGENCY LANDING AND MADE AN APPROACH TO THE FIELD.' THE AIRPLANE STRUCK THE TOP OF A TREE AND SUBSEQUENTLY IMPACTED THE TERRAIN. FIELD EXAMINATION OF THE ENGINE REVEALED IMPACT DAMAGE TO THE FACE OF THE NUMBER THREE CYLINDER PISTON. A PIECE OF METAL WAS FOUND IMBEDDED IN THE PISTON. THE EXHAUST ROCKER ARM WAS REMOVED ON THE NUMBER THREE CYLINDER REVEALING THE VALVE STEM EXTENDED APPROXIMATELY 1/2 INCH AND THE VALVE HEAD BROKEN OFF. NO OTHER ANOMALIES TO THE ENGINE WERE FOUND. ## Factual narrative On October 21, 1995, at 1700 central daylight time, a Piper PA- 28-140, N6932W, piloted by a private pilot, sustained substantial damage during a forced landing to a clearing in a wooded area in Ocie, Missouri. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The flight was operated under 14 CFR Part 91. A flight plan was not on file. The pilot and passenger sustained serious injuries. The business flight departed Vichy, Missouri, at 1530 cdt, and was en route to Mena, Arkansas. In his written statement, the pilot reported that he was cruising at 6,500 feet mean sea level (MSL) when the airplane's engine "began to run rough, then lose power." The pilot "selected a field for emergency landing, made an approach to the field and came up approximately 300 feet short." The airplane struck the top of a tree and subsequently impacted the terrain. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector who examined the wreckage at the site found all of the airplane parts together resting in a clearing approximately 130 feet from the base of a 50 foot high tree which showed evidence of shear impact damage near the top. Leaves and branches from the same tree were found embedded in the leading edges of the left wing and left horizontal stabilizer. An impact ground scar was measured 108 feet from the base the tree. Both wings had separated from the fuselage at the wing roots. The crew compartment showed twisting and bending forward of the cabin door. The crew compartment floor had been crushed and pushed upward. The fuselage aft of the cabin door, the horizontal and vertical stabilizers, elevator and rudder showed minor damage. The engine, had separated from the fuselage at the firewall and was lying on its right side. The propeller was still attached to the engine. One blade was straight and the other blade was bent slightly rearward and twisted. Examination of the flight controls revealed complete continuity. A field examination of the engine was performed at the accident site on October 23, 1995. Thumb compression was confirmed on all engine cylinders except for the number three cylinder. Resistance to crankshaft rotation was noted each time the piston in the number three cylinder reached top-dead-center (TDC). Further examination of the number three cylinder revealed impact damage to the face of the piston. A piece of metal was found imbedded in the piston. The exhaust rocker arm was removed on the number three cylinder revealing the valve stem extended approximately 1/2 inch. A portion of the valve head was broken off. The throttle and mixture controls on the carburetor were confirmed in place. Oil supply to the engine was also confirmed. No other anomalies to the engine were found. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N6932W](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N6932W-2013-08-08), registration cancelled 2013-08-08, S/N 28-21290, built 1965 (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: 28-2129C - Airframe hours: 4238 - Engines: LYCOMING O-320-E2A 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Business, Part 91 - Registered owner: Three Way Leasing Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, October 5, 1995, 9 hours before - Departed: VIH, VICHY, MO - Destination: M39, MENA, AR ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 32; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 145 total, 3 in this make and model, 80 as pilot in command, 10 in the last 90 days, 9 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 210° at 7 knots - Visibility: 15 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 64 °F, dew point 21 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: SGF, 56 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 19951021039169A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19951021039169A), Oct 21, 1995: Piper PA28140, Osie, MO, Destroyed. Forced landing, number three exhaust valve failure, and loss of engine power. Struck top of a tree. (-4)the pilot stated the airplane was in cruise flight at… ## Other investigations on N6932W (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 FTW67D0368](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW67D0368), Oct 26, 1966: Piper PA-28 (N6932W), Corpus Chrsti, TX, 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. --- 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.