# NTSB ERA09LA409: Cessna 170B, N8339A, Mahwah, NJ, July 19, 2009 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 19, 2009, 11:00 local (15:00 UTC) - Place: Mahwah, NJ - Coordinates: 41.108333, -74.16333 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.1083&lon=-74.1633&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: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious - Status: Completed, report October 19, 2009 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 74313 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA09LA409 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/74313/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=74313 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA09LA409 ## Probable cause A loss of engine power due to the failure of the No. 1 cylinder thru bolt hold down nuts due to corrosion. ## 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 · Fatigue/wear/corrosion (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 170B, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058530/cases.md?model=2072306), [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 170B, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/340/sequence.md?model=2072306), [All aircraft, 820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/340/sequence.md) - [Enroute-cruise: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341); cases with it: [Cessna 170B, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=2072306), [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md) - [Emergency descent: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440); cases with it: [Cessna 170B, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=2072306), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Landing area overshoot](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/380); cases with it: [Cessna 170B, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/380/sequence.md?model=2072306), [All aircraft, 400 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/380/sequence.md) ## Analysis During a cross-country flight, the airplane’s engine began to vibrate heavily, lost all power, and the pilot executed an emergency landing in a field. During the landing roll, the airplane impacted a hill, and sustained substantial damage. On a previous flight, the pilot recalled a vague vibration while en route. A mechanic was unable to identify the source of the vibration, and a "no defects noted" statement was entered into the logbook after various component checks. Examination of the airplane by a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector revealed that the No.1 cylinder revealed that two thru bolt nuts were loose. Two of the other bolts were sheered off, and one was missing. The threads on the thru bolt, with the missing nut, were rusted. ## Factual narrative On June 19, 2009, about 1100 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 170B, N8339A, collided with a hill during an emergency landing in Mahwah, New Jersey. The private pilot was seriously injured, and the airplane was substantially damaged by impact forces. The flight was operated as a personal flight under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 91, and a visual flight rules flight plan was filed. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the planned flight to Greenwood Lake Airport (4N1), West Milford, New Jersey. The flight originated from Barnes Municipal Airport (BAF), Westfield, Massachusetts. The pilot stated that during a cross-country flight, the airplane’s engine began to vibrate heavily. She attempted to continue her flight to the destination airport, but lost total engine power. She then attempted an emergency landing in a field, but collided with a hill during the landing roll. The pilot recalled that during a previous cross-country flight she experienced a vague vibration while enroute. After she landed she informed her mechanic of the anomaly, and an inspection was performed. The mechanic was unable to identify the source of the vibration. An assumption was made by the mechanic that the carburetor may have developed carburetor ice. Examination of the airplane by a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector revealed that the airplane overshot a field during landing roll out and collided with a hill. The airframe and flight control system components revealed no evidence of preimpact mechanical malfunction. The examination of the engine revealed that the No.1 cylinder was separated from the engine case. Six of the eight cylinder attachment thru bolts were separated at the cylinder attachment flange. The bolt nuts were not found. The other thru bolts were still attached to the case but loosely held by the nuts to the bolts. The threads on one of the thru bolts exhibited corrosion and discoloration. Review of logbooks revealed that the last annual inspection was conducted on March 06, 2009, at 3,258.6 hours total engine time. A log entry was made on June 10, 2009 at 3,263.1 engine total time, for an inspection for a "possible rough running engine." A "no defects noted" statement was entered after various component checks, and the airplane was returned to service. The engine had a top overhaul on March 1, 2001, at a tachometer time of 116.5 hours. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N8339A](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8339A-2015-05-05), registration cancelled 2015-05-05, S/N 25191, built 1952 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 170B - Registry model: [Cessna 170B](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-170b) (registry code 2072306) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental C145 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-c145-series) (registry code 17012, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 25191 - Airframe hours: 3584 - Engines: Lycoming O-360-A1A 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Ganim Rose B - Registered owner: Ganim Rose B - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, March 6, 2009, 15 hours before - Departed: BAF, Westfield, MA - Destination: TEB, Mahwah, NJ - Flight plan: Unknown - Airport: 4N1, Greenwood Lake Airport ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 41; injuries: serious; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; seat: left; flight hours: 538 total, 163 in this make and model, 420 as pilot in command, 12 in the last 90 days, 8 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 280° at 9 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 73 °F, dew point 52 °F - Altimeter: 30.06 inHg - Observed at: TEB, 5 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 20090719047949A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20090719047949A), Jul 19, 2009: Cessna 170B, Mahwah, NJ, Substantial damage. On 02/26/09 N8339A was determined to be in airworthy condition by an annual inspection. Rose ganim, PIC and owner of N8339A noted in a personal log on 06/07/09… ## Other investigations on N8339A (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 SEA94LA216](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA94LA216), Aug 17, 1994: Cessna 170B (N8339A), Redmond, OR, substantial damage. Probable cause: PROPER TOUCHDOWN POINT WAS NOT ATTAINED. A FACTOR TO THE ACCIDENT WAS INADEQUATE REMEDIAL ACTION. ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 24, 2009, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=74313. 3.0 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 363 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40317352&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Other Pertinent Forms and Reports-Logbook pages (item 2, .PDF, 524 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40317353&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Other%20Pertinent%20Forms%20and%20Reports-Logbook%20pages-Redacted.PDF - Statement of Party Representatives to NTSB Investigation (item 3, .PDF, 58 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40317354&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Statement%20of%20Party%20Representatives%20to%20NTSB%20Investigation-Redacted.PDF - Photo 1-FAA digital loose cylinder bolt (item 4, .PDF, 2.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40317355&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201-FAA%20digital%20loose%20cylinder%20bolt-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.