# NTSB NYC94LA069: Piper PA-28-180, N1152X, Batavia, OH, March 20, 1994 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: March 20, 1994, 13:55 local (18:55 UTC) - Place: Batavia, OH - Coordinates: 39.070983, -84.180236 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.0710&lon=-84.1802&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report November 18, 1994 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 38742 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC94LA069 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/38742/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC94LA069 ## Probable cause THE LOSS OF ENGINE POWER AS THE RESULT OF A FRACTURED CYLINDER HEAD. ## 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, cruise - normal - engine assembly,cylinder - fractured (cause) - Forced landing, descent - emergency - On ground/water collision with object, landing - roll - object - tree(s) ## Analysis THE PILOT STATED THAT IN CRUISE FLIGHT, THE ENGINE STARTED TO VIBRATE AND THE OIL PRESSURE AND RPM DECREASED. HE INITIATED A FORCED LANDING TO A FIELD AND DURING THE LANDING ROLL THE AIRPLANE IMPACTED TREES. EXAMINATION OF THE ENGINE REVEALED THAT THE NUMBER 2 CYLINDER HEAD HAD FRACTURED. MAINTENANCE RECORDS INDICATED THAT THE ENGINE HAD ACCUMULATED 262 HOURS SINCE THE LAST OVERHAUL. ## Factual narrative On March 20, 1994, at 1355 eastern standard time, a Piper PA-28-180, N1152X, piloted by James F. Arnold, III, sustained substantial damage during a forced landing in Batavia, Ohio. The pilot was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed. The flight was being conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. The flight departed Dayton Ohio, destined for Lexington, Kentucky. In his report, the pilot stated: [I]...climbed to 4500 [feet]...[the] airplane and engine were operating normally....Suddenly ...the engine started vibrating terribly...[it] started losing RPM and oil pressure. All oil pressure was soon lost....I began looking for a suitable off airport place to land....The short field was completely circled by trees and I did not have enough distance to stop before [impacting] ...trees and brush. Mr. Eric M. Aponte, Aviation Safety Inspector for the Federal Aviation Administration, examined the engine. In his report, Mr. Aponte stated: This investigation revealed that the malfunction occurred when the engine cylinder head no. 2 split open (head and barrel separation) at the cylinder barrel (between no. 4 and no. 5 cooling fins), probably due to stress corrosion and or metal fatigue of the cylinder barrel wall. Aircraft maintenance records were reviewed with no indication of previous cylinder repairs other than a complete engine overhaul....Total...time since engine overhaul [was] 261.9 hours. END OF REPORT ## Aircraft - Registration: [N1152X](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N1152X-2008-05-01), registration cancelled 2008-05-01, S/N 28-7505216, built 1975 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28-180 - Registry model: [Piper PA-28-180](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-180) (registry code 7102808) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming O&VO-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-vo-360-series) (registry code 41514, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 287505216 - Airframe hours: 2248 - Engines: LYCOMING O-360 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Arnold And Sons Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, October 1, 1993, 56 hours before - Departed: I19, DAYTON, OH ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 35; private; airplane ratings: multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 232 total, 32 in this make and model, 165 as pilot in command, 22 in the last 90 days, 10 in the last 30 days, 6 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Day - Wind: 90° at 6 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 48 °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 (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 19940320005899A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19940320005899A), Mar 20, 1994: Piper PA28180, Batavia, OH, Substantial damage. Engine vibration and power loss after departure. Struck trees in short field. Cylinder split open. Tbo 262 hr prior 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.