# NTSB ERA11CA441: Cessna 172K, N7214G, Sylacauga, AL, August 5, 2011 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: August 5, 2011, 12:09 local (17:09 UTC) - Place: Sylacauga, AL - Coordinates: 33.171943, -86.305557 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.1719&lon=-86.3056&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Initial climb: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report December 1, 2011 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 81406 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA11CA441 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/81406/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=81406 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA11CA441 ## Probable cause A stuck exhaust-valve on the number one cylinder which resulted in a loss of engine power. ## 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 · Malfunction (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172K, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058530/cases.md?model=2072430), [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. - [Initial climb: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 172K, 11 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=2072430), [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 172K, 11 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=2072430), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md) - [Emergency descent: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Cessna 172K, 33 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=2072430), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The student demonstrated a touch-and-go landing and as the airplane climbed through approximately 150 feet above ground level, the engine lost power. The certified flight instructor (CFI) took control of the airplane and attempted to troubleshoot the loss of power while executing a turn to the right, as the forested area off the end of the runway precluded landing straight ahead. The airplane descended below the tops of the trees, and the CFI attempted to follow an S-turn in a road and land in an area free from obstructions. Midway through the turn, the airspeed began to degrade, and the airplane began to stall. The CFI reduced the angle of attack to keep from stalling and losing control and allowed the left wing to come in contact with a tree. The airplane yawed to the left, the right wing contacted trees, and the airplane impacted the ground. A postaccident examination revealed that the exhaust valve for the No.1 cylinder was stuck in the open position which was consistent with the engine's loss of power. ## Factual narrative The student pilot and his flight instructor took off from their home airport and proceeded to an outlying airport to practice landings and takeoffs. After the student demonstrated a touch and go landing, as the airplane climbed through approximately 150 feet above ground level the engine lost power. The flight instructor then took control of the airplane, and attempted to trouble shoot the loss of power while executing a turn to the right as the forested area off the end of the runway precluded landing straight ahead. The airplane then descended below the tops of the trees and the flight instructor attempted to follow an S-turn in a road and land in an area free from obstructions. Midway through the turn however, the airspeed began to degrade and the airplane began to stall. The flight instructor then reduced angle of attack to keep from stalling and losing control and allowed the left wing to come in contact with a tree. The airplane then yawed to the left, the right wing then contacted trees, and the airplane impacted the ground. Post accident examination by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed that the exhaust valve for the No.1 cylinder was stuck in the open position which was consistent with the engine's loss of power. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N7214G](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N7214G-2013-06-24), registration cancelled 2013-06-24, S/N 17258914, built 1969 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 172K - Registry model: [Cessna 172K](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172k) (registry code 2072430) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 17258914 - Airframe hours: 5294 - Engines: LYCOMING O-320-E2D 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Birmingham Flight Center - Registered owner: Rowe Kip - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, August 4, 2010 - Departed: SCD, Sylacauga, AL - Destination: BHM, Birmingham, AL - Airport: SCD, Sylacuaga Municipal Airport, runway 27, 5,390 × 100 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Flight instructor; age 25; injuries: none; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review November 27, 2010; seat: left; flight hours: 940 total, 500 in this make and model, 750 as pilot in command, 110 in the last 90 days, 50 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours - Student pilot; age 21; injuries: none; seat: left; flight hours: 15 total, 15 in this make and model, 15 in the last 90 days, 6 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 260° at 5 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 90 °F, dew point 73 °F - Altimeter: 30.02 inHg - Observed at: ALX, 22 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 20110805018349A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20110805018349A), Aug 5, 2011: Cessna 172K, Sylacauga, AL, Substantial damage. During an instructional flight departing from birmingham, AL (bhm) to Sylacauga, AL (ksdc). Instructor pilot and student pilot of aircraft N7214G, were… ## Other investigations on N7214G (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 NYC72DNC38](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC72DNC38), Apr 9, 1972: Cessna 172 (N7214G), W.Dover, VT, substantial damage ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 24, 2011, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=81406. 2.7 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 476 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40353724&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Witness Statements and Interview Summaries (item 2, .PDF, 191 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40353725&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Witness%20Statements%20and%20Interview%20Summaries-Redacted.PDF - KALX Weather Observations (item 3, .PDF, 145 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40353726&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=KALX%20Weather%20Observations-Master.PDF - Photograph of Main Wreckage (FAA) (item 4, .PDF, 1.9 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40353736&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photograph%20of%20Main%20Wreckage%20(FAA)-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.