- Date
- April 26, 1994, 15:42 local (20:42 UTC)
- Place
- Bushnell, FL
- Injuries
- 1 minor, 3 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Initial climb
- Aircraft
- N9530ACessna 170A
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report November 18, 1994
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19940426009369A
- Case key
- 37535
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 pilot-in-command's improper landing flare during a forced landing, resulting in a hard landing and separation of the right main landing gear. Contributing to the accident was a partial loss of engine power due to a loose exhaust valve seat on the No. 3 cylinder.
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 commercial pilot was about 50 feet agl on initial takeoff climb when the airplane started to vibrate and the engine started running rough. The pilot determined that he could not clear trees at the end of an open field and made a forced landing straight ahead maneuvering around some trees and cattle. The pilot stated he flared a little high, landed hard and the right main landing gear separated. Subsequent examination of the engine assembly by the FAA and the pilot revealed the exhaust valve seat on the No. 3 cylinder was loose.
Factual narrative
On April 26, 1994, about 1542 eastern standard time, a Cessna 170A, N9530A, registered to Dennis W. Woodard, operating as a 14 CFR Part 91 paradrop flight, experienced a partial loss of power on initial climb from Bushnell Airport, Bushnell, Florida. The pilot made a forced landing straight ahead to an open field maneuvering around some cows and trees. The pilot stated he flared a little high, landed hard, and the right main landing gear separated. The airplane was substantially damaged. The commercial pilot received minor injuries and the three passengers were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. The flight originated about 2 minutes before the accident.
The pilot stated on climb at about 50 feet agl, the airplane started to vibrate, and the engine ran rough. He thought he had blown a cylinder, and he made a forced landing straight ahead to avoid colliding with a tree line at the end of an open field.
Examination of the engine by the FAA and the registered owner revealed the engine exhaust valve on the No. 3 cylinder was loose.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N9530A
- Reported as
- Cessna 170A
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 15031-1-6-BR
- Airframe hours
- 3,795
- Engine
- Continental O-300-B, 145 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Part 91
- Registered owner
- Woodard, Dennis W.
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Utility
- Last inspection
- Annual · June 19, 1993 · 31 hours before
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
- 61
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land, Multi-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Seat
- Left
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 310° at 11 knots
- Visibility
- 7 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 84 °F, dew point 72 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.00 inHg
- Observed at
- PIE, 30 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.