# NTSB MIA98LA163: Nanchang CJ-6A, N158T, Pageland, SC, May 16, 1998 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: May 16, 1998, 13:40 local (17:40 UTC) - Place: Pageland, SC - Coordinates: 34.769577, -80.380767 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.7696&lon=-80.3808&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious - Status: Completed, report February 15, 2001 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 38520 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA98LA163 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/38520/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA98LA163 ## Probable cause Was the inadvertent stall of the airplane by the pilot-in-command while attempting to clear trees beneath the airplane during the descent for the forced landing. Contributing to the accident was the partial loss of engine power due to separation of the No.9 cylinder from the engine. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(partial) - mech failure/malf, cruise - normal - engine assembly,cylinder - separation (contributing factor) - engine assembly,piston - disintegrated (contributing factor) - Loss of control - in flight, emergency descent/landing - speed brakes - intentional, pilot in command - landing gear - intentional, pilot in command - stall - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause) - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled - terrain condition - open field ## Analysis During cruise flight about 800 feet above ground level about 1.5 miles east of the destination airport, the pilot felt a vibration and observed an object protruding through the engine cowling. Unable to maintain altitude due to the loss of engine power, the pilot attempted a forced landing in a field. With the landing gear and speed brake extended, after clearing trees, the airplane stalled, impacted the ground nose low, then nosed over. Examination of the engine revealed that the No.9 cylinder was separated from the engine. Disassembly of the engine revealed that the No.9 cylinder piston was failed, the auxiliary rod end sleeve was missing, and the auxiliary rod piston pin hole was elongated. The maintenance records indicate that the engine had accumulated 425 hours since new at the time of failure. ## Factual narrative On May 16, 1998, about 1340 eastern daylight time, a Nanchang CJ-6A, N158T, registered to a private individual, experienced a loss of engine power and collided with terrain during an attempted forced landing in a field about 1.5 miles east of Pageland, South Carolina. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan was filed for the 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight. The airplane was substantially damaged and the private-rated pilot, the sole occupant, was seriously injured. The flight originated about 10 minutes earlier from the Cheraw Municipal Airport, Cheraw, South Carolina. The pilot stated that while flying at 800 feet agl, he felt a vibration and observed an object protruding from the engine cowling, and a resulting loss of engine power. While attempting to clear trees with the landing gear and the speed brake extended, the airplane stalled, impacted the ground nose low, then nosed over and came to rest inverted. The pilot was not wearing the installed shoulder harness. Examination of the engine by the FAA inspector revealed that the No. 9 cylinder was separated from the engine and the auxiliary rod piston pin hole was elongated. The auxiliary rod sleeve was not in place. Nonferrous metal was noted inside the engine case. Review of the maintenance records revealed that at the time of failure, the engine had accumulated about 425 hours since new. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N158T](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N158T-2023-04-01), registration cancelled 2023-04-01, S/N 3151213, built 1976 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Nanchang CJ-6A - Registry model: [Nanchang China CJ-6A](https://openairdocs.org/model/nanchang-china-cj-6a) (registry code 056183N) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Amateur-built UNKNOWN ENG](https://openairdocs.org/engine/amateur-built-unknown-eng) (registry code 99999) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 3151213 - Airframe hours: 3983 - Engines: Housia HJ-9 285 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Jay L. Morris - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, March 1, 1998, 31 hours before - Departed: 47J, CHERAW, SC - Destination: PYG, PAGELAND, SC ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 40; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: front; flight hours: 114 total, 28 in this make and model, 74 as pilot in command, 28 in the last 90 days, 7 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 200° at 6 knots - Visibility: 5 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 90 °F, dew point 70 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: CLT, 42 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 19980516014299A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19980516014299A), May 16, 1998: Nancng CJ6A, Pageland, SC, Substantial damage. Engine vibration power loss. Landed hard clearing trees. Nosed over. NR9 cylnder seperated. Broken connecting rod. During cruise flight about 800FEET above… 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.