Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Scottsdale, Arizona 85260
Saturday, November 30, 1996 9:34 MST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

While the airplane was climbing after departure, the engine lost power, then the pilot made a forced landing, and the airplane was damaged. Postaccident examination of the engine revealed that the piston in the #2 cylinder had failed. The #2 piston crown was severely eroded over 80 percent of the piston circumference. Erosion, scoring, and metal transfer was evident on the piston skirts. Before removal of the #2 cylinder, heat discoloration was noted on the cylinder base. A report from the engine manufacturer stated that the failure was due to detonation/preignition. The entire fuel system, both magnetos, and the turbo controller were functionally tested at the respective manufacturer's facilities. All of the components met the FAA approved test data.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

detonation/pre-ignition for unknown reason(s), which resulted in failure of the number two piston, loss of engine power, and a subsequent forced landing on rough/uneven desert terrain.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 11/30/1996
Event Day of the Week Saturday
Time of Event 934
Event Time Zone Mountain Standard Time
Event City SCOTTSDALE
Event State ARIZONA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 85260
Event Date Year 1996
Event Date Month 11
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness Not pertinent
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 845
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID SDL
Elevation of weather observation facility 0
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 60
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) --
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 170
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 4
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Serious
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious 5
Injury Total All 5
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 1783
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Nov 30 1996 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 930
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 8 2000 10:28AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N4788C
NTSB Number LAX97LA058
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed IFR
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Destroyed
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Cessna
Aircraft Model T210N
Aircraft Series Identifier T210N
Aircraft Serial Number 21063625
Certified Max Gross Weight 4000
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 6
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Dec 18 1995 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 95
Airframe Hours 5374
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name LEONARD ZAAGMAN
Aircraft Owner Street Address 14451 CAVERN DR.
Aircraft Owner City FOUNTAIN HILLS
Aircraft Owner State AZ
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 85268
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name SCOTTSDALE FLYERS LLC
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address 14605 AIRPORT DR.
Operator City SCOTTSDALE
Operator State AZ
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 85260
Operator Code
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation Unknown
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Personal
Second Pilot on Board Yes
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code SDL
Departure City
Departure State AZ
Departure Country
Departure Time 929
Departure Time Zone MST
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code MYF
Destination City SAN DIEGO
Destination State CA
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Emergency landing
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:30AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 0
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --