# NTSB LAX91LA096: Piper PA22-160, N3064Z, Bagdad, AZ, February 11, 1991

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: February 11, 1991, 14:05 local (21:05 UTC)
- Place: Bagdad, AZ
- Coordinates: 34.499137, -113.07006 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.4991&lon=-113.0701&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious, 1 minor, 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report December 30, 1992
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 27111
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX91LA096
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/27111/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX91LA096

## Probable cause

THAT THE PILOT MISJUDGED THE LANDING FLARE ALTITUDE.  CONTRIBUTING TO THIS ACCIDENT WAS THE FAILURE OF THE EXHAUST VALVE AND THE PILOT'S ANXIETY DURING THE EMERGENCY.

## 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 - normal
  - single engine aircraft
  - engine assembly,valve,exhaust - failure,total (contributing factor)
  - engine assembly,valve,exhaust - fatigue (contributing factor)
- Forced landing, descent - emergency
- Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown
  - planned approach - misjudged, pilot in command (cause)
  - anxiety/apprehension, pilot in command (contributing factor)

## Analysis

WHILE AT NORMAL CRUISE THE ENGINE BEGAN TO RUN ROUGH AND LOSE POWER.  THE PLT DECLARED AN EMERGENCY AND EXECUTED A FORCED LANDING IN THE SPARSELY POPULATED DESERT.  DURING THE LANDING FLARE THE PILOT MISJUDGED THE ALTITUDE AND LANDED HARD.  THE TWO REAR PASSENGERS, THINKING THERE WAS A FIRE ONBOARD, RELEASED THEIR SEAT BELTS BEFORE THE LANDING AND WERE EJECTED THROUGH THE DOOR ON TOUCHDOWN.  EXAMINATION OF THE ENGINE DISCLOSED THE SODIUM FILLED EXHAUST VALVE FAILED IN FATIGUE.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N3064Z](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N3064Z), registered now, S/N 22-7019, built 1959 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA22-160
- Registry model: [Piper PA-22-160](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-22-160) (registry code 7102214) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 22-7019
- Engines: LYCOMING O-320-B2B 160 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Robert L. Boyd, doing business as Estrella Ent.
- Registered owner: Robert L. Boyd
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Departed: P06, BULLHEAD CITY, AZ
- Destination: DVT, PHOENIX, AZ

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 60; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; flight hours: 4,700 total, 91 in this make and model, 4,600 as pilot in command, 7 in the last 90 days, 3 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 75 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: -0 °F, dew point -0 °F

## 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 19910211002089A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19910211002089A), Feb 11, 1991: Piper PA22160, Bagdad, AZ, Substantial damage. Engine lost power and seized. Crash landed short of open field. Exhaust valve seized,causing further engine damage

## Other investigations on N3064Z (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 OAK68D0273](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/OAK68D0273), Jan 21, 1968: Piper PA-22 (N3064Z), Visalia, 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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