# NTSB SEA96LA042: Cessna 182, N91130, Grantsville, UT, January 12, 1996

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: January 12, 1996, 13:00 local (20:00 UTC)
- Place: Grantsville, UT
- Coordinates: 40.489963, -111.840072 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.4900&lon=-111.8401&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 3 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report July 25, 1996
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 42323
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA96LA042
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/42323/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA96LA042

## Probable cause

the failure of the #5 exhaust valve rocker boss, and the subsequent sticking of the exhaust valve in the closed position. Factors include wet, soft terrain in the only available landing area.

## 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, maneuvering
  - engine assembly,rocker arm/tappet - failure (cause)
  - engine assembly,valve,exhaust - closed (cause)
- Forced landing, emergency descent/landing
- Nose over, emergency descent/landing
  - terrain condition - wet (contributing factor)
  - terrain condition - soft (contributing factor)

## Analysis

While maneuvering over the Great Salt Lake, the aircraft's engine experienced a substantial loss of power. At the rate the aircraft was descending, the only land the pilot could reach was Carrington Island. He made an emergency landing on the shore of the island, and the aircraft nosed over on the soft, muddy terrain. Examination of the engine revealed that the #5 exhaust valve rocker boss had failed, resulting in the valve remaining in the closed position.

## Factual narrative

On January 12, 1996, approximately 1300 mountain standard time, a Cessna 182, N91130, nosed over during an emergency landing on the shore of Carrington Island, in the Great Salt Lake, Utah. The commercial pilot and his two passengers were not injured, but the aircraft sustained substantial damage. The local 14 CFR Part 91 shrimp spotting flight, which departed Salt Lake City International Airport about 30 minutes earlier, was being operated in visual meteorological conditions at the time of the accident. No flight plan had been filed, and there was no report of an ELT activation.

According to the pilot, the aircraft's engine began making excessive noise and it lost a substantial amount of power. Because Carrington Island was the only land he could reach at the rate the aircraft was descending, he elected to make an emergency landing on the shore of the island. After a successful touchdown, the aircraft sank into the muddy terrain during the landing roll and flipped over.

Inspection of the engine revealed that the exhaust valve rocker boss for the number 5 cylinder had broken off, resulting in the exhaust valve remaining in the closed position.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N91130](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N91130-2012-05-17), registration cancelled 2012-05-17, S/N 18261955, built 1973 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Cessna 182
- Registry model: [Cessna 182P](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-182p) (registry code 2075816) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental O-470 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-o-470-series) (registry code 17026, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 18261955
- Airframe hours: 2645
- Engines: Continental O-470-R-25A 230 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Aerial observation, Part 91
- Registered owner: Golden West Artemia
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, August 8, 1995, 307 hours before
- Departed: SLC, SALT LAKE CITY, UT

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 36; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 4,299 total, 315 in this make and model, 4,132 as pilot in command, 245 in the last 90 days, 58 in the last 30 days, 6 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 8 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 45 °F

## 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 19960112000629A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19960112000629A), Jan 12, 1996: Cessna 182P, Grantsville, UT, Substantial damage. Shrimp spotting flight. Engine noise and power loss. Landed on beach. Nosed over in sand. Exhaust valve failure.

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.

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