# NTSB SEA92LA218: Piper PA-22-135, N8274C, Troutdale, OR, September 29, 1992

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: September 29, 1992, 15:10 local (22:10 UTC)
- Place: Troutdale, OR
- Coordinates: 45.520317, -122.349945 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=45.5203&lon=-122.3499&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 3 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report September 14, 1993
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 42913
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA92LA218
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/42913/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA92LA218

## Probable cause

SEPARATION OF THE NUMBER 3 CYLINDER EXHAUST VALVE HEAD AND OVERLOADING OF THE NOSE GEAR STRUT. A FACTOR CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE UNEVEN TERRAIN.

## 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
  - engine assembly,valve,exhaust - separation (cause)
- Forced landing, descent - emergency
- Nose over, landing - roll
  - landing gear,nose gear strut - overload
  - terrain condition - rough/uneven (contributing factor)

## Analysis

WHILE IN CRUISE THE ENGINE BEGAN RUNNING ROUGH AND VIBRATING. THE PILOT, UNABLE TO MAINTAIN ALTITUDE DUE TO THE POWER LOSS, EXECUTED A FORCED LANDING ONTO AN UNEVEN FIELD DURING WHICH THE NOSE GEAR STRUT FOLDED AFT DUE TO OVERLOAD AND THE AIRCRAFT NOSED OVER. SUBSEQUENT DISASSEMBLY OF THE ENGINE REVEALED THAT THE NUMBER 3 CYLINDER EXHAUST VALVE HAD SEPARATED AT THE NECK JUST BENEATH THE BASE OF THE VALVE HEAD.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N8274C](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8274C-2018-03-06), registration cancelled 2018-03-06, S/N 22-2349, built 1954 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-22-135
- Registry model: [Piper PA-22](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-22) (registry code 7102202) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-290 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-290-series) (registry code 41506, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 22-2349
- Airframe hours: 2573
- Engines: LYCOMING O-290-D2 135 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Mcbride, Edward U.
- Registered owner: Mcbride, Edward U.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, August 24, 1992, 22 hours before
- Departed: 59S, VANCOUVER, WA
- Destination: 59S

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 59; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 420 total, 72 in this make and model, 391 as pilot in command, 41 in the last 90 days, 18 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 80° at 17 knots, gusting 26
- Visibility: 35 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 25,000 ft broken
- Temperature: 73 °F, dew point 45 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: TTD, 4 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 19920929042979A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19920929042979A), Sep 29, 1992: Piper PA22135, Troutdale, OR, Substantial damage. Lost partial power. Nosed over landing in a field. NR3 exhaust valve broke. Blew igniter out of cylinder head.

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.