# NTSB MIA98LA206: Piper PA-28-161, N8258E, Tampa, FL, July 24, 1998 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 24, 1998, 13:00 local (17:00 UTC) - Place: Tampa, FL - Coordinates: 28.000097, -82.380462 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=28.0001&lon=-82.3805&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report February 15, 2001 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 43202 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA98LA206 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/43202/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA98LA206 ## Probable cause Total loss of engine power due to a hydraulic valve lifter failure. ## Analysis The airplane sustained a total loss of engine power due to hydraulic valve lifter failure while the pilot was performing practice landings, necessitating an emergency descent and landing to a highway median and subsequent collision with road signs. ## Factual narrative On July 24, 1998, about 1300 eastern daylight time, a Piper PA-28-161, N8258E, registered to Leading Edge Aviation Services, Inc., operating as a 14 CFR Part 91 instructional flight, crashed while making a forced landing onto a highway median near Tampa, Florida. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. The airplane received substantial damage and the student pilot was not injured. The flight originated about 40 minutes before the accident. According to the pilot, he had just completed a full-stop landing to runway 18 at Tampa's Vandenberg Airport, had back taxied and made a second takeoff, and was in his crosswind turn for a second landing, at an altitude of 500 feet agl, when the engine started vibrating and suddenly stopped altogether. The pilot felt his only alternative was to try for the highway off ramp median, and in doing so, collided with three construction sign standards. According to FAA inspector's statements, the sign standard collisions caused propeller, nose wheel strut, firewall, left wing, and upper left fuselage longeron damage. A postcrash engine run was conducted, and revealed a metallic knocking sound and exhaust blowing out the carburetor air inlet. Subsequent engine examination, with FAA oversight, revealed catastrophic internal failure. The oil filter contained pebblized metal pieces, and larger pieces of the No.3 exhaust hydraulic valve lifter/boss assembly were found in the oil screen. The No.3 exhaust valve pushrod had been peened and scraped for about 1/2 inch of it's length at the valve lifter end. The No.3 exhaust valve was stuck closed and appeared to have sustained extreme heat and burning. Additionally, the No.1 exhaust valve was stuck closed and the No.1 valve lifter was damaged. The Lycoming O-320 E2DA was designed for a 2,000 hour recommended time-between-overhaul, (TBO) interval. The time since overhaul for N8258E's engine was about 2,100 hours. ## 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, takeoff - initial climb - engine assembly,valve lifter - failure (cause) - Forced landing, emergency descent/landing - On ground/water collision with object, landing - roll - object - sign ## Aircraft - Registration: [N8258E](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8258E-1999-04-05), registration cancelled 1999-04-05, S/N 28-8116021 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Piper PA-28-161 - Registry model: [Piper PA-28-161](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-161) (registry code 7102803) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 28-8116021 - Airframe hours: 7228 - Engines: Lycoming O-320-D36 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Registered owner: David Moberg - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, May 29, 1998, 98 hours before - Departed: X16, TAMPA, FL ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 56; student; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 57 total, 30 in this make and model, 22 in the last 90 days, 6 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 250° at 6 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 91 °F, dew point 73 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: TPA, 18 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 19980724026799A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19980724026799A), Jul 24, 1998: Piper PA28161, Tampa, FL, Substantial damage. (.4)On July 24, 1998, about 1300 eastern daylight time, a Piper PA-28-161, N8258E, registered to leading edge aviation services, inc., operating as a 14 CFR… 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.