Pilot Debrief

CESSNA 152 near Miami, FL — 2013-04-04

Final reportERA13LA187
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Date
2013-04-04
Location
Miami, FL, USA
Aircraft
CESSNA 152
Registration
N6141Q
Category
Airplane
Highest injury
None
Fatalities
0
Phase of flight
Maneuvering

Probable cause

A partial loss of engine power due to the failure of the No. 3 exhaust valve. Contributing to the accident was the airplane operator’s failure to follow the engine manufacturer’s recommended engine overhaul intervals.

NTSB narrative

Near the conclusion of a local training flight, the airplane’s engine experienced a partial loss of power, and the flight instructor performed a forced landing to a road. The airplane departed the road during the landing, and the right wing was substantially damaged. Postaccident examination of the engine found that the No. 3 cylinder exhaust valve had fractured and separated from the valve stem. Review of maintenance records showed that the valve may have been installed during a repair to the No. 3 cylinder that occurred about 28 years before the accident flight; however, due to the incomplete nature of the records provided, a definitive determination of the engine’s complete service history could not be made. Recent engine log entries showed that the engine had accumulated nearly 2,500 flight hours since the most recent overhaul. The engine-manufacturer-recommended time between overhaul is every 2,400 flight hours or 12 calendar years.

Analysis

Primary failure mode
Engine power loss
First missed decision gate
Instructor could have aborted the steep turn when engine power loss began.

NTSB coding

Evidence available

  • Photos
  • 7 docket documents
View NTSB final reportView NTSB docket

Docket documents7

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