# NTSB ERA09LA510: Socata TB 9 Tampi, N135ER, Milner, GA, September 8, 2009 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: September 8, 2009, 15:37 local (19:37 UTC) - Place: Milner, GA - Coordinates: 33.181388, -84.247222 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.1814&lon=-84.2472&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Enroute-descent: Powerplant sys/comp malf/fail](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/340) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report April 19, 2010 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 74692 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA09LA510 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/74692/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=74692 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA09LA510 ## Probable cause The failure of the No. 3 cylinder exhaust valve for undetermined reasons. ## 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); cases with it: [Socata TB 9 TAMPICO, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058530/cases.md?model=8680694), [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-descent: Powerplant sys/comp malf/fail](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/340) (defining event); cases with it: [Socata TB 9 TAMPICO, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/340/sequence.md?model=8680694), [All aircraft, 820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/340/sequence.md) - [Emergency descent: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440); cases with it: [Socata TB 9 TAMPICO, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=8680694), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md) ## Analysis After takeoff the flight proceeded toward the destination airport. While in a descent between 7,000 and 6,500 feet msl, the engine began to vibrate and shake. The pilot continued toward the destination airport and reduced power to 2,000 rpm, but the vibrating/shaking continued. The pilot slowly reduced the power to idle, and after recognizing that he would be unable to land at the airport, he maneuvered the airplane for a forced landing in a field. He realized that the flight was too high to land in the first field, and he maneuvered the airplane toward a second field. He secured the engine about 100 feet above ground level (agl), and lowered full flaps. While descending through 20 feet agl, the airplane collided with the tops of pine trees. The airplane then impacted the ground and came to rest upright. Examination of the engine revealed the exhaust valve of the No. 3 cylinder was missing and not recovered. The top of the No. 3 piston exhibited heavy impact damage associated with the broken exhaust valve. The No. 3 cylinder had accumulated approximately 1,918 hours since overhaul at the time of the accident. ## Factual narrative On September 8, 2009, about 1537 eastern daylight time, a Socata TB 9 Tampico, N135ER, registered to a private individual, was substantially damaged during a forced landing near Milner, Georgia. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan was filed for the 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 91 personal flight from Heart of Georgia Regional Airport (EZM), Eastman, Georgia, to Griffin-Spalding County Airport (6A2), Griffin, Georgia. The certificated private pilot and one passenger were not injured. The flight originated from EZM about 1500. After takeoff the flight climbed to 8,500 feet mean sea level (msl) and continued towards the destination airport. The pilot reported he began descending when the flight 17 miles from his destination, with the engine rpm at 2,550. He did not recall the altitude but thinks the flight was between 7,000 and 6,500 feet msl when the engine began vibrating/shaking badly. He executed the emergency procedures and advised Approach Control, and believed at that time he was 13 miles from his destination (6A2). He pushed nearest airport in his GPS receiver and it indicated 6A2. He continued towards that airport and reduced power to 2,000 rpm but the vibrating/shaking continued. He slowly reduced power to idle and saw 6A2 when the flight was 8 miles away. He switched to the common traffic advisory frequency (CTAF) and when the flight was 5 miles from the airport he announced his intentions. After recognizing that he would be unable to land at the airport, he announced on the CTAF that he would be landing in a. He turned to the left 30 to 45 degrees to land in a field but was too high for the first field. He then proceeded to a second field, reduced his airspeed to 70 knots, and when the flight was about 100 feet above ground level (agl), he secured the engine and lowered full flaps. While descending, when the flight was 20 feet agl, the airplane collided with the tops of pine trees. The left wing was impacted which caused the airplane to yaw to the left. Approximately 3 to 4 seconds later the airplane was on the ground and the nose landing gear collapsed. Examination of the engine following recovery of the airplane revealed the exhaust valve of the No. 3 cylinder was missing and not recovered. The top of the No. 3 piston exhibited heavy impact damage associated with the missing exhaust valve. Review of the maintenance records revealed overhauled cylinders were installed at all positions when the engine was overhauled on January 23, 1998. The time on each cylinder at the time of the engine overhaul was not determined. The overhauled engine was installed on February 6, 1998, and there was no record that the No. 3 cylinder had been removed or replaced since then at the time of the accident. The engine had accumulated approximately 1,918 hours since overhaul at the time of the accident. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N135ER](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N135ER-2017-04-24), registration cancelled 2017-04-24, S/N 1525 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: SOCATA TB 9 TAMPI - Registry model: [Socata TB 9 TAMPICO](https://openairdocs.org/model/socata-tb-9-tampico) (registry code 8680694) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 1525 - Airframe hours: 6984 - Engines: LYCOMING O-320-D2A 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Warren R W Jr DBA - Registered owner: Warren R W Jr DBA - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, October 1, 2008, 120 hours before - Departed: EZM, Eastman, GA - Destination: 6A2, Griffin, GA ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 44; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review May 19, 2009; seat: left; flight hours: 187 total, 180 in this make and model, 149 as pilot in command, 27 in the last 90 days, 2 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: variable at 4 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 86 °F, dew point 61 °F - Altimeter: 30.01 inHg - Observed at: FFC, 18 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 20090908049109A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20090908049109A), Sep 8, 2009: Socata TB 9 TAMPIC, Griffin, GA, Substantial damage. Aircraft experienced severe vibration. Pilot reduced power to a level where vibration not as bad (about 1400RPM). When it became apparent that he would not… ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on February 12, 2010, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=74692. 1.3 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 808 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40324069&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Record of NTSB Conversation (item 2, .PDF, 57 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40324070&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20NTSB%20Conversation-Master.PDF - Photo 1: NTSB Digital Picture. View of the Top of the Piston From the No. 3 Cylinder. (item 3, .PDF, 282 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40324071&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201%3A%20NTSB%20Digital%20Picture.%20View%20of%20the%20Top%20of%20the%20Piston%20From%20the%20No.%203%20Cylinder.-Master.PDF - Photo 2: NTSB Digital Picture. View of the No. 3 Cylinder Showing the Missing Exhaust Valve. (item 4, .PDF, 142 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40324072&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%202%3A%20NTSB%20Digital%20Picture.%20View%20of%20the%20No.%203%20Cylinder%20Showing%20the%20Missing%20Exhaust%20Valve.-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.