- Date
- July 31, 1992, 15:05 local (22:05 UTC)
- Place
- Glendale, AZ
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Takeoff
- Aircraft
- N4581WRockwell 112TC
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report September 14, 1993
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19920731028479A
- Case key
- 27713
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
A loss of engine power due to excessive carbon deposits on the number one cylinder exhaust valve, and, the pilots attempted operation of the aircraft with known mechanical deficiencies.
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
The accident sequence was witnessed by several a & p mechanics working at the Glendale airport. One witness said the engine seemed to be running rough and backfiring during the pretakeoff engine runup. The aircraft initiated a takeoff and the witnesses reported that the engine roughness and backfiring continued throughout the takeoff ground roll and initial climb. The aircraft was observed to maneuver to the down wind leg as if the pilot were attempting to return for a landing, then the engine ceased running altogether. The aircraft collided with the ground in a corn field about one half mile from the end of the runway and sheared off the landing gear. Examination of the engine by an a & p mechanic under the supervision of FAA inspectors revealed that the number one cylinder exhaust valve was stuck in the open position due to carbon buildup on the valve stem.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N4581W
- Reported as
- Rockwell 112TC
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 13071
- Airframe hours
- 1,495
- Engine
- Lycoming TO-360, 200 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Kevin D. Nielsen
- Registered owner
- Kevin D. Nielsen
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · March 10, 1992 · 33 hours before
- Departed
- GEU
- Destination
- O45 · Vacaville, CA
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
- 38
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 155 total · 68 in this make and model · 105 as pilot in command · 11 in the last 90 days · 9 in the last 30 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Visibility
- 30 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 100 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.00 inHg
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.
Other investigations on N4581W · 1
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.