# NTSB NYC93LA176: Champion Citabria 7-GCBC, N5029L, Fire Island, NY, August 28, 1993 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 28, 1993, 15:35 local (19:35 UTC) - Place: Fire Island, NY - Coordinates: 40.740257, -73.080123 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.7403&lon=-73.0801&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report June 22, 1994 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 38649 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC93LA176 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/38649/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC93LA176 ## Probable cause FAILURE OF THE #4 CYLINDER VALVE STEM. ## 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,valve,intake - failure,total (cause) - Forced landing, landing - flare/touchdown - Ditching, landing - flare/touchdown - terrain condition - water (contributing factor) ## Analysis WHILE CRUISING AT 1300 FT ABOVE THE WATER, A PARTIAL LOSS OF ENGINE POWER OCCURRED. APPLICATION OF FULL THROTTLE, CARBURETOR HEAT AND MIXTURE TO RICH DID NOT RESTORE POWER. TO AVOID HITTING PEOPLE ON THE BEACH WITH THE BANNER, THE PILOT DESCENDED TO 400 FT TO DROP THE BANNER. DUE TO THE BEACH CROWD HE ALSO ELECTED TO MAKE A WATER LANDING. POST-ACCIDENT EXAMINATION OF THE ENGINE REVEALED THAT THE #4 CYLINDER VALVE STEM HAD BROKEN. THE FACE OF THE VALVE WAS FOUND IN THE MUFFLER. ## Factual narrative On Saturday, August 28, 1993, at about 1535 eastern daylight time, a Champion, Citabria, N5029L, piloted by Christopher Connelly, was substantially damaged during a forced landing to the Atlantic Ocean, near Fire Island, New York. The pilot received minor injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. A flight plan had not been filed for the flight operating under 14 CFR 91. This was a banner towing flight that departed Brookhaven, New York, at 1245, to Asbury Park, New Jersey and return. During the return leg at 1,300 feet above the water, the pilot experienced a power loss. In the NTSB Form 6120.1/2, the pilot stated: "At 1535 I lost power. I descended to 400' [feet] and dropped banner (...If I had dropped higher there was possibility of injury from banner to people on the ground.)...wanted to land on beach...decided not to because of...number of people on the beach...I stalled aircraft just as I hit water..." In a separate statement provided by the pilot he stated that when he experienced the partial power loss he had turned on the carburetor heat, applied full power, placed the mixture to full rich "and nothing happened." A post accident examination of the engine was performed by A&P Aircraft Maintenance, INC., and revealed that the number four cylinder exhaust valve had broken off. The A&P report stated: "...part of the stem was still in the cylinder head bushing. The valve hit the top of the piston, marks are visible. The remaining stem cannot be found but the face of the valve was found in the muffler. In my opinion, this was the cause of the engine stoppage." ## Aircraft - Registration: [N5029L](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5029L-2001-05-22), registration cancelled 2001-05-22, S/N 1061-78 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CHAMPION CITABRIA 7-GCBC (CITABRIA 7) - Registry model: [Bellanca 7GCBC](https://openairdocs.org/model/bellanca-7gcbc) (registry code 1220601) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 1061-78 - Airframe hours: 1838 - Engines: LYCOMING O-320 150 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Part 91 - Registered owner: Brookfield Aviation Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, February 28, 1993, 192 hours before - Departed: HWV, BROOKHAVEN, NY ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 24; commercial, airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: front; flight hours: 2,480 total, 1,100 in this make and model, 2,374 as pilot in command, 30 in the last 90 days, 17 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 220° at 11 knots, gusting 18 - Visibility: 3 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 88 °F, dew point 75 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: ISP, 10 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 19930828031499A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19930828031499A), Aug 28, 1993: Bbavia 7GCBC, Fire Island, NY, Substantial damage. Engine swallowed a broken valve during banner tow off shore. Dropped banner and ditched due people on beach. 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.