# NTSB ERA23LA372: Cessna 182P, N8443M, Prospect, TN, September 14, 2023

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report
- Date: September 14, 2023, 13:00 local (18:00 UTC)
- Place: Prospect, TN · Soybean field
- Coordinates: 35.00617, -87.00257 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.0062&lon=-87.0026&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: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 2 minor
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Investigation class: Class 3
- NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation
- Parties: FAA/FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 193069
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA23LA372
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/193069/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=193069
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA23LA372

## Probable cause

A loss of engine power due to the fatigue failure of the No. 6 cylinder exhaust valve rocker boss.

## 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 182P, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058530/cases.md?model=2075816), [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 182P, 8 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342/sequence.md?model=2075816), [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 182P, 18 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=2075816), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md)
- [Landing-landing roll: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096); cases with it: [Cessna 182P, 16 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md?model=2075816), [All aircraft, 2,287 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot was performing a cross-country flight whenthere was a “sudden severe engine vibration and loss of power.” He reduced the throttle in an attempt to lessen the engine vibration and elected to land the airplane in a soybean field since he was unsure if he could clear a large, forested area between him and the next closest airport. After touchdown, the nose landing gear struck a ditch, separated, and the airplane nosed over, coming to rest inverted. An examination of the engine after the accident revealed the No. 6 cylinder exhaust valve rocker boss was fractured and loose inside the rocker cover. The boss was fractured in two places. Metallurgical examination revealed one of the fractured bosses failed from fatigue that initiated at multiple sites along the bore surface that had been in contact with the rocker arm. A review of the maintenance logbooks revealed that the engine cylinders were removed, overhauled, and reinstalled about 3 years and 4 months before the accident, and the airplane had accrued about 154 hours total time since the cylinders were overhauled.

## Factual narrative

On September 14, 2023, about 1300 central daylight time, a Cessna 182P airplane, N8443M, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Prospect, Tennessee. The private pilot and one passenger sustained minor injuries. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The pilot was performing a cross-country flight from Tuscaloosa National Airport (TCL), Tuscaloosa, Alabama, to Lebanon Municipal Airport (M54), Lebanon, Tennessee. About 1 hour into the flight, at 3,500 ft mean sea level, there was a “sudden severe engine vibration and loss of power.” He reduced the throttle to lessen the engine vibration. He elected to land the airplane in a soybean field since he was unsure if he would clear a large, forested area between him and the next closest airport. After touchdown in the soybean field, the nose landing gear struck a ditch, separated, and the airplane nosed over, coming to rest inverted. He called 911 and was met by first responders. Federal Aviation Administration inspectors responded to the accident site and examined the wreckage. The wreckage was found inverted, in the soybean field. There was no fire. The fuselage and empennage were substantially damaged. After recovery of the wreckage, the engine was examined on the airframe. The rocker covers were removed to examine the cylinder heads and check valve action. The Nos. 1-5 cylinders were normal in appearance and the valve action was correct. When the rocker cover for the No. 6 cylinder was removed, pieces of the exhaust valve rocker boss, the rocker, washers, and the rocker shaft were loose inside. The exhaust valve was closed. The rocker boss was fractured in two places. The loose parts recovered from the No. 6 cylinder were sent to the National Transportation Safety Board Materials Laboratory for examination. One of the rocker boss fragments exhibited features consistent with fatigue that initiated at multiple sites along the bore surface that had been in contact with the arm. The other boss fragment was fractured from overstress, exhibiting features consistent with rapid fracture of an aluminum casting. A review of the engine logbook revealed that the engine cylinders were removed, overhauled, and reinstalled on May 18, 2020, at 2,609.8 hours total aircraft time. At the time of the accident, the airplane had accrued about 154 hours since the cylinders were overhauled.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N8443M](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8443M-2023-11-25), registration cancelled 2023-11-25, S/N 18264605, built 1976 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 182P
- Registry model: [Cessna 182P](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-182p) (registry code 2075816) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental O-470 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-o-470-series) (registry code 17026, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 18264605
- Year built: 1976
- Airframe hours: 2764
- Engines: Continental O-470-S 230 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, May 23, 2023, 24 hours before
- Departed: TCL, Tuscaloosa, AL
- Destination: M54, Lebanon, TN
- Equipment: Auto-pilot, ADS-B, Stall warning system, Handheld GPS

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 75; injuries: minor; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: basicmed, with waivers/limitations; last flight review October 1, 2022; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 554 total, 190 in this make and model

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 360° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 82 °F, dew point 57 °F
- Altimeter: 30.04 inHg
- Observed at: DCU, 21 nm away
- METAR: METAR KDCU 141753Z AUTO 36008KT 330V040 10SM CLR 28/14 A3004 RMK AO2 SLP167 T02780144 10278 20172 58006

## 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 20230914013969A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20230914013969A), Sep 14, 2023: Cessna 182P, Prospect, TN, Substantial damage. On 09/15/2023, a Cessna 182 experienced engine issues and made a forced landing in a soybean field located in Prospect, Tennessee. During the landing phase the…

## Docket (6 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on December 5, 2024, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=193069. 25.2 MB in all.

- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 7.6 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16597748&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=1%206120_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- FAA inspector statement (item 2, PDF, 10 pages, 3.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16597758&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=2%20FAA%20Inspector%20Statement_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Excerpts- maintenance logbooks (item 3, PDF, 11 pages, 7.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16598207&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=3%20Excerpts%20-%20Maintenance%20Lobooks_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Investigation photographs (item 4, PDF, 8 pages, 3.6 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16598095&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=4%20Investigation%20Photographs-Rel.pdf
- Examination summary (item 5, PDF, 7 pages, 409 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16598217&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=5%20NTSB%20Examination%20Summary-Rel.pdf
- Materials laboratory factual report 24-041 (item 6, PDF, 14 pages, 3.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17575456&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=24-041%20-%20Materials%20Lab%20Factual%20Report%20(ERA23LA372)-Rel.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.

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