# NTSB LAX86FA326: Cessna 182N, N92252, Wilmington, CA, August 20, 1986

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: August 19, 1986, 21:51 local (Aug 20, 1986, 04:51 UTC)
- Place: Wilmington, CA
- Coordinates: 33.770542, -118.260307 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.7705&lon=-118.2603&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 2 serious
- Status: Completed, report January 25, 1988
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 24937
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX86FA326
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/24937/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX86FA326

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Loss of engine power(total) - mech failure/malf, cruise
  - engine assembly,valve,intake - inoperative (cause)
  - engine assembly,other - overtorque (cause)
  - maintenance,installation - improper, other maintenance personnel (cause)
  - documentation - improper, other maintenance personnel (cause)
  - acft/equip,inadequate standard/requirement, manufacturer (contributing factor)
- Forced landing, descent - emergency
  - terrain condition - none suitable (contributing factor)
- In flight collision with object, descent - emergency
  - object - wire,transmission (contributing factor)
  - object - fence (contributing factor)
  - object - building(nonresidential) (contributing factor)

## Analysis

DURING A LOCAL NIGHT INSTRUCTIONAL FLT THE PLTS REPORTED THAT THE ENG BEGAN TO RUN VERY ROUGH AND EVENTUALLY QUIT WHEN POWER WAS REDUCED SLIGHTLY TO BEGIN THE DESCENT FOR THE DESTINATION ARPT. THE ACFT STRUCK POWER LINES, TWO SMALL BUILDINGS AND A BRICK WALL DURING THE NIGHT FORCED LANDING IN AN INDUSTRIAL AREA. EXAMINATION OF THE ENG REVEALED THAT THE NUMBER ONE CYLINDER EXHAUST VALVE ROCKER ARM SHAFT BOSS JOURNAL HAD FAILED. TESTS OF AN IDENTICAL ENG DUPLICATING THE BOSS JOURNAL FAILURE IN A TEST CELL REPLICATED THE ENG POWER LOSS AS DESCRIBED BY THE CREW. THE CYLINDER HAD BEEN CHANGED 27 HOURS PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT. EVIDENCE INDICATED THAT THE ROCKER ARM SHAFT KEEPER BOLT HAD BEEN OVER TORQUED DURING THE OVERHAUL.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N92252](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N92252-2013-05-22), registration cancelled 2013-05-22, S/N 18260112, built 1969 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 182N
- Registry model: [Cessna 182N](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-182n) (registry code 2072730) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental O-470 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-o-470-series) (registry code 17026, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 18260112
- Airframe hours: 1248
- Engines: CONTINENTAL O-470-R 230 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Registered owner: Net Development Company
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, April 26, 1986, 27 hours before
- Departed: FUL, FULLERTON, CA
- Destination: LGB, LONG BEACH, CA

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 34; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: right; flight hours: 846 total, 200 in this make and model, 726 as pilot in command, 30 in the last 90 days, 10 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/bright
- Wind: 340° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 25 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 12,000 ft broken
- Temperature: 77 °F, dew point 54 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: LGB, 6 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 19860819040889A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19860819040889A), Aug 19, 1986: Cessna 182N, Wilmington, CA, Destroyed. Engine lost power on night flight. Aircraft hit multiple objects on landing. Exhaust rocker arm failed.

## Other investigations on N92252 (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 OAK73FXQ10](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/OAK73FXQ10-201632), Aug 26, 1973: Cessna 182N (N92252), Mammoth Lks, CA, substantial damage

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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