Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Lake Mead, Nevada 89191
Tuesady, July 15, 1997 15:20 PDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot reported that while climbing to cruise flight he heard a bang from the engine, followed by a major vibration. The engine continued vibrating and he was unable to maintain altitude, so he pulled the aircraft into a stall to stop and feather the propeller. He stated that he attempted to land in a parking lot, but came in too high and too fast. He touched down on a road and collided with a berm. A FAA inspector examined the aircraft and noted two holes in the engine case above the forward cylinder's connecting rods. Further examination of the powerplant revealed that the Nos. 2 and 6 cylinders were intact. Neither piston displayed any sign of heat discoloration around the skirts. Combustion deposits were noted on the piston crowns. There was no staining or piston crown edge erosion. Both skirts were failed. The No. 4 cylinder piston was disintegrated around the pin. The piston rod was bent and the piston pin was still intact through the rod wrist. Neither the rod nor the pin displayed any indication of heat distress. There was no scoring noted inside the cylinder barrel. The No. 4 bottom sparkplug was fouled with metal. The sump contained oil and large chunks of pistons. The pilot reported that the Continental O-470-U engine had 2536.1 hours of total time, 75.2 hours since the last inspection, and 806.8 hours since the last overhaul. The maintenance records revealed that the six pistons, each with a Superior Air Parts, Inc., part number SA 648029, were installed during the last major engine overhaul on February 19, 1990.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Failure of the number 4 piston for undetermined reasons.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 7/15/1997
Event Day of the Week Tuesday
Time of Event 1520
Event Time Zone Pacific Daylight Time
Event City LAKE MEAD
Event State NEVADA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 89191
Event Date Year 1997
Event Date Month 7
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 Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1456 Pacific Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 270
Weather Observation Facility ID LAS
Elevation of weather observation facility 2179
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 25
Time Zone of the weather observation PDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 22000
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Unknown
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Broken
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 41
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 3
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 80
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 11
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 16
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Minor
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor 1
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 1873
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Jul 16 1997 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 730
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 8 2000 12:25PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N2914K
NTSB Number LAX97LA242
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Cessna
Aircraft Model 180K
Aircraft Series Identifier 180K
Aircraft Serial Number 18053127
Certified Max Gross Weight 1500
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 Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Aug 26 1996 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 75
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed Unknown
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name GOODFELLOW SALES INC
Aircraft Owner Street Address P.O. BOX 60070
Aircraft Owner City BOULDER CITY
Aircraft Owner State NV
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 89006
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name GOODFELLOW, LYNN U
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address 679 MARINA DRIVE
Operator City BOULDER CITY
Operator State NV
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 89005
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) Business
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code 61B
Departure City BOULDER CITY
Departure State NV
Departure Country
Departure Time 0
Departure Time Zone
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code U77
Destination City SPANISH FORK
Destination State UT
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Climb
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:34AM
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 --