# NTSB LAX07LA153: Piper PA-28-140, N5895U, Tucson, AZ, May 8, 2007 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: May 8, 2007, 12:22 local (19:22 UTC) - Place: Tucson, AZ - Coordinates: 32.150001, -111.17472 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.1500&lon=-111.1747&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report June 30, 2008 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 65767 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX07LA153 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/65767/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX07LA153 ## Probable cause A loss of engine power while maneuvering due to a broken exhaust valve. Contributing to the accident was the rough terrain. ## 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, maneuvering - engine assembly,valve,exhaust - failure,total (cause) - Forced landing, emergency landing - Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown - terrain condition - rough/uneven (contributing factor) ## Analysis The engine began losing power about 1,600 feet above the ground. The airplane was unable to maintain altitude, and the pilots made a hard forced landing in rough desert terrain about 1/3-mile from the destination airport. During the subsequent borescope examination of the engine, the top surface of the number 3 piston was observed to be damaged, and the cylinder's exhaust valve head was broken off from the stem. No further inspections were performed. ## Factual narrative On May 8, 2007, about 1222 mountain standard time, a Piper PA-28-140, N5895U, experienced a partial loss of engine power while maneuvering near Tucson, Arizona. The certified flight instructor (CFI) took the airplane controls from the second pilot, who was receiving a check-out, and the CFI proceeded to make a forced landing. The airplane impacted rough, native vegetation-covered, desert terrain about 1/3-mile north of the Ryan Field, Tucson. During the hard landing, the airplane's right main and nose gear were broken off, and the right wing's fuel tank was punctured; the airplane was substantially damaged. Neither the CFI nor the second pilot were injured during the instructional flight. The airplane was operated by the National Pilot Academy, Tucson. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time, and no flight plan had been filed. The flight was performed under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91, and it originated from Tucson about 1147. The CFI reported to the National Transportation Safety Board investigator that the accident occurred while he was checking out the private pilot in the airplane. They were maneuvering about 4,000 feet mean sea level (1,600 feet above ground level) when the engine suddenly started running rough and began losing power. In response to the vibration and power loss, the CFI stated that he turned the airplane toward the departure airport. On approach, engine power continued to decrease and he was unable to maintain altitude. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) personnel examined the airplane under the Safety Board investigator's direction. FAA personnel removed the engine's upper cowling and upper spark plugs. A boroscope inspection of the number 3 cylinder revealed that the top surface of the piston was damaged. Further boroscope inspection of its exhaust valve revealed that the valve was broken and all that remained of the valve was its stem. Cylinders number 1, 2, and 3 showed no evidence of damage. No further inspections were performed. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N5895U](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5895U-2015-05-19), registration cancelled 2015-05-19, S/N 28-26791, built 1970 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Piper PA-28-140 - Registry model: [Piper PA-28-140](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-140) (registry code 7102802) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 28-26791 - Airframe hours: 3551 - Engines: Lycoming O-320-E2A 150 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: National Pilot Academy - Registered owner: Pro-Air Aviation, LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility; Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, March 1, 2007, 9 hours before - Departed: RYN, Tucson, AZ - Destination: RYN, Tucson, AZ - Airport: RYN, Ryan Field ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Flight instructor; age 27; injuries: none; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; last flight review January 1, 2007; seat: right; flight hours: 650 total, 50 in this make and model, 520 as pilot in command, 210 in the last 90 days, 60 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours - Pilot; age 28; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review January 1, 2007; seat: left; flight hours: 60 total, 1 in this make and model, 23 as pilot in command, 60 in the last 90 days, 29 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 80° at 3 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 82 °F, dew point 30 °F - Altimeter: 29.94 inHg - Observed at: TUS, 13 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 20070508009589A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20070508009589A), May 8, 2007: Piper PA28140, Tucson, AZ, Substantial damage. (-23) On may 8th, 2007, the pilot, PIC, [privacy data omitted] and student were conducting a low wing check out in N5895U. During a phone interview, the pilot… 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.