# NTSB LAX05LA214: Piper PA-28R-200, N5229T, Happy Jack, AZ, June 16, 2005 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: June 16, 2005, 14:35 local (21:35 UTC) - Place: Happy Jack, AZ - Coordinates: 34.953609, -111.318054 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.9536&lon=-111.3181&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report April 25, 2007 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 61780 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX05LA214 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/61780/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX05LA214 ## Probable cause The fracture/separation of an engine intake valve during cruise flight, which resulted in a partial loss of engine power and a forced landing. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(partial) - mech failure/malf, cruise - engine assembly,valve,intake - fractured (cause) - engine assembly,valve,intake - separation (cause) - Forced landing, emergency descent/landing - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - roll - terrain condition - rough/uneven - unsuitable terrain or takeoff/landing/taxi area - encountered, pilot in command ## Analysis The pilot landed on a rough dirt road and damaged the wings following a partial loss of power. The airplane was in cruise flight about 10,500 feet mean sea level (msl) when it began to slowly lose altitude. Efforts by the pilot to increase engine power and arrest the descent failed. The pilot determined that the engine was capable of producing only partial power. In order to avoid an uncontrolled descent into terrain, he landed on the dirt road. Examination of the engine revealed an intake leak on cylinder no. 3. A piece of the intake valve was missing, and the edges of the fracture surface were jagged. ## Factual narrative On June 16, 2005, about 1435 mountain standard time, a Piper PA-28R-200, N5229T, experienced a partial loss of engine power and performed a forced landing on a rough dirt road near Happy Jack, Arizona. The rough nature of the landing area resulted in structural damage to the wings. American Aviation, Inc., Peyton, Colorado, was operating the airplane under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91. The private pilot and one passenger were not injured; the airplane sustained substantial damage. The personal flight departed Gallup, New Mexico, about 1354 mountain daylight time, with a planned intermediate destination of Needles, California. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed. The approximate global positioning system (GPS) coordinates of the accident site were 34 degrees 57 minutes north latitude and 111 degrees 19 minutes west longitude. According to the pilot, he was in cruise flight about 10,500 feet mean sea level (msl) along a 7,000-foot-high ridge line south of Flagstaff, Arizona, where "mountain wave action" was present. The airplane began to slowly lose altitude, and efforts by the pilot to increase engine power and arrest the descent failed. The pilot then turned east, away from the ridge line, to avoid an uncontrolled descent into terrain. Once clear of the ridge line and any possible effects of the mountain wave, the pilot determined that the engine was capable of producing only partial power. Unable to maintain altitude, the pilot landed on a rough dirt road causing damage to the nose wheel and left main gear. Further examination of the airplane revealed compression buckling on the lower wing surfaces and popped rivets on the upper wing surfaces at the spar. TESTS AND RESEARCH Investigators from the National Transportation Safety Board examined the wreckage at Air Transport, Phoenix, Arizona, on June 23, 2005. They removed the cowling and removed the top spark plugs. The spark plug electrodes were oval and gray, which corresponded to normal operation according to the Champion Aviation Check-A-Plug AV-27 Chart. The top spark plug electrode for cylinder 3 had a slight wet appearance. They examined the fuel bowl and fuel screen. They observed no sediment, but observed a blue fluid that smelled like aviation fuel. Recovery personnel connected a fuel source in order to run the engine. The engine ran through a range of power settings, which included idle, 900 revolutions per minute (rpm), and up to 2,450 rpm. When checked, the magnetos had a drop of 50 rpm each. At the maximum rpm of 2,450, the manifold pressure was at 28 inches and the fuel flow was at 14 gallons per hour. Investigators rotated the engine, and obtained thumb compression on all cylinders except cylinder no. 3. They performed a differential compression test on the cylinders. Cylinder 3 had a compression of 0/80; all other cylinders tested were at least 65/80. During the compression test on cylinder no. 3, they heard air leaking through the intake system. They staked the valves on that cylinder, but noted no increase in compression. The salvage company that purchased the wreckage reported to the owner's agent that the intake valve for cylinder no. 3 had a piece of the valve missing. The edges of the fracture surface were jagged. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N5229T](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N5229T), registered now, S/N 28R-7235002, built 1972 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Piper PA-28R-200 - Registry model: [Piper PA-28R-200](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28r-200) (registry code 7102811) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming I0360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-i0360-series) (registry code 41515, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 28R-7235002 - Engines: Lycoming IO-360-C1C 200 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: American Aviation, Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: KGUP, Gallup, NM - Destination: KEED, Needles, CA ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 66; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review May 1, 2005; seat: left; flight hours: 3,885 total, 9 in this make and model, 3,803 as pilot in command, 10 in the last 90 days, 10 in the last 30 days, 5 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 220° at 19 knots, gusting 24 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 77 °F, dew point 19 °F - Altimeter: 30.14 inHg - Observed at: KFLG, 21 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 20050616016679A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20050616016679A), Jun 16, 2005: Piper PA28R200, Happ Jack, AZ, Substantial damage. (-23) On June 16, 2005, about 1435 mountain standard time, a Piper PA-28R-200, N5229T, experienced a partial loss of engine power and performed a forced… 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.