- Date
- June 8, 1991, 16:55 local (23:55 UTC)
- Place
- Thermal, CA
- Injuries
- 2 minor, 2 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Enroute
- Aircraft
- N6230DCessna 172N
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report March 31, 1993
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19910608020539A
- Case key
- 27241
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The partial failure of the engine/powerplant from a worn intake valve and the failure of company/operator management to perform an overhaul on the engine within the time frame recommended by the engine manufacturer.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
A Cessna 172N nosed over in soft soil during landing roll after a forced landing. The pilot indicated that the engine was running rough and losing power. The pilot landed the airplane on an airport, but was unable to maneuver the airplane to a runway. The airplane decelerated to about 20 mph during the ground roll on dirt. The airplane nosed over after the nose gear struck a 15 to 18 inch high dirt bank. The engine was examined by an A&P mechanic. The A&P found the number three cylinder intake valve was 'tuliped.' According to the airplane's maintenance records, the engine had accrued 2,850 hours of operation without overhaul. Forty four hours of operation before the accident, the engine's cylinder compression checked 'ok' during a leak test. The engine manufacturer recommended time between overhauls is 1,500 hours. During overhaul the valves are removed and visually checked for wear.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N6230D
- Reported as
- Cessna 172N
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 17272648
- Airframe hours
- 4,949
- Engine
- Lycoming O-320 H2AD, 160 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Consair Flying Club
- Registered owner
- Sanders, William
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · April 9, 1991 · 125 hours before
- Departed
- L77 · Chiraco Summit, CA
- Airport
- TRM · Thermal, runway 3, 4,993 × 100 ft, dirt
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 30
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 1, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 90 total · 8 in this make and model · 9 as pilot in command · 9 in the last 90 days · 2 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 190° at 9 knots
- Visibility
- 25 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 100 °F, dew point 27 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.00 inHg
- Observed at
- TRM, 1 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.