# NTSB ERA11LA230: Cessna 172P, N98FR, Vega Baja, PR, April 1, 2011 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: April 1, 2011, 16:35 local (20:35 UTC) - Place: Vega Baja, PR - Coordinates: 18.468334, -66.435279 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=18.4683&lon=-66.4353&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Enroute-cruise: Loss of engine power (partial)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 3 uninjured - Status: Completed, report August 11, 2011 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 78797 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA11LA230 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/78797/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=78797 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA11LA230 ## Probable cause The failure of the No. 2 cylinder exhaust valve resulting 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 · Failure (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172P, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058530/cases.md?model=2072436), [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: Loss of engine power (partial)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 172P, 9 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342/sequence.md?model=2072436), [All aircraft, 1,858 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342/sequence.md) - [Emergency descent: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440); cases with it: [Cessna 172P, 22 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=2072436), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md) - [Landing: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Cessna 172P, 45 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=2072436), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis During cruise flight, about 1,000 feet above ground level, the engine lost power and began to vibrate. The pilot was unable to maintain altitude, so he performed a forced landing to a nearby abandoned military airfield. After touchdown, the airplane departed the end of the runway and collided with trees and bushes resulting in substantial damage to the airframe. A postaccident examination of the engine revealed that the No. 2 cylinder exhaust valve failed, and the valve parts exited the engine through the exhaust system. The operator reported that the exhaust valve had accumulated about 1,120 hours since installation. ## Factual narrative On April 1, 2011, about 1635 Atlantic Standard Time, a Cessna 172P, N98FR, experienced a loss of engine power and force landed on a closed, abandoned airfield near Vega Baja, Puerto Rico. The airplane was substantially damaged. The airplane was registered to Flight World, Inc. and was operated by Isla Grande Flying School under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. The private pilot and two passengers were not injured. The flight originated from Borinquen, Puerto Rico (BQN) about 1600 and was destined for San Juan, Puerto Rico (SIG). The pilot reported that the airplane was in cruise at 1,000 feet above ground level when the engine lost power and began to vibrate heavily and the altitude could not be maintained. About 250 feet, he observed a runway at a closed, former military base and attempted a landing. During the landing attempt, the airplane collided with trees and bushes. Structural damage to the wings and fuselage resulted. Initial examination of the engine by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed that the number 2 cylinder exhaust valve spring was loose. The cylinder was subsequently examined and the exhaust valve, manufactured by Superior Air Parts, was found to have failed. The operator reported that all of the exhaust valve parts, with the exception of the valve keepers and associated parts, exited the exhaust system. The exhaust valve reportedly had accumulated about 1,120 hours since installation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N98FR](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N98FR-2011-06-15), registration cancelled 2011-06-15, S/N 17274195, built 1980 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 172P - Registry model: [Cessna 172P](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172p) (registry code 2072436) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 17274195 - Airframe hours: 11297 - Engines: LYCOMING O-320-D2J 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Isla Grande Flying School - Registered owner: Flight World Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, December 15, 2010, 49 hours before - Departed: BQN, Borinquen, PR - Destination: SIG, San Juan, PR - Airport: Camp Tortuguero (Abandoned) ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 20; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review October 13, 2010; seat: left; flight hours: 226 total, 30 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Dawn - Wind: 150° at 10 knots - Visibility: 9 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 88 °F, dew point 66 °F - Altimeter: 29.94 inHg - Observed at: TJSJ, 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 20110401005959A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20110401005959A), Apr 1, 2011: Cessna 172P, Vega Baja, PR, Destroyed. On April 1, 2011, a Cessna model 172P, s/n 17274195, registration N98FR, owned by isla grande flying school was rented by Mr. Joao shamil fernandez, holder of… ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 17, 2011, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=78797. 2.7 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 547 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40349298&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - FAA Inspector's Statement (item 2, .PDF, 61 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40349299&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=FAA%20Inspector%27s%20Statement-Redacted.PDF - Photo 1: Right Wing Damage (FAA Digital Photo) (item 3, .PDF, 854 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40349300&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201%3A%20Right%20Wing%20Damage%20(FAA%20Digital%20Photo)-Master.PDF - Photo 2: Engine (FAA Digital Photo) (item 4, .PDF, 1.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40349301&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%202%3A%20Engine%20(FAA%20Digital%20Photo)-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.