Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Port Heiden, Alaska 99549
Friday, January 29, 1993 9:57 AST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE NON SCHEDULED AIR TAXI CARGO FLIGHT, CONDUCTED UNDER 14 CFR PART 135, EXPERIENCED A LOSS OF ENGINE POWER WHILE IN CRUISE FLIGHT. THE PILOT MADE AN EMERGENCY LANDING ON SNOW COVERED TUNDRA. A POST ACCIDENT EXAMINATION OF THE POWERPLANT BY A FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION AVIATION SAFETY INSPECTOR REVEALED THAT THE NUMBER 3 CYLINDER INTAKE VALVE STEM FAILED, CAUSING THE VALVE TO PASS THROUGH THE PISTON, RESULTING IN EXTENSIVE INTERNAL DAMAGE TO THE ENGINE.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

THE FAILURE OF THE NUMBER 3 CYLINDER INTAKE VALVE STEM. A FACTOR IN THE DEGREE OF DAMAGE THE AIRCRAFT SUSTAINED IN THE MISHAP WAS ATTRIBUTABLE TO THE OFF AIRPORT EMERGENCY LANDING ON SHOW COVERED TUNDRA.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 1/29/1993
Event Day of the Week Friday
Time of Event 957
Event Time Zone Atlantic Standard Time
Event City PORT HEIDEN
Event State ALASKA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 99549
Event Date Year 1993
Event Date Month 1
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 0
Degrees magnetic from airport 0
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 945 Atlantic Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 360
Weather Observation Facility ID PTH
Elevation of weather observation facility 86
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 8
Time Zone of the weather observation AST
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 2500
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Broken
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 20
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) -10
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) -16
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 330
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 13
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29
Density Altitude (feet) 0
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 1
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 923
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Jan 29 1993 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1000
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information
Date of most recent change to record Dec 11 2000 1:06PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N8327S
NTSB Number ANC93LA029
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 135: Air Taxi & Commuter
Type of Flight Plan filed Company VFR
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name PIPER
Aircraft Model PA-32
Aircraft Series Identifier PA-32
Aircraft Serial Number 32-8106039
Certified Max Gross Weight 3680
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 100 Hour
Date of Last Inspection Jan 11 1993 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 76
Airframe Hours 1189
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name PENINSULA AIRWAYS, INC.
Aircraft Owner Street Address 4851 A AIRCRAFT DRIVE
Aircraft Owner City ANCHORAGE
Aircraft Owner State AK
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 99502
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name PENINSULA AIRWAYS, INC.
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address 4851 A AIRCRAFT DRIVE
Operator City ANCHORAGE
Operator State AK
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 99502
Operator Code PNSA
Owner has at least one certificate Yes - certificate holder
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 Non-scheduled
Indicates Domestic or International Flight Domestic
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail Cargo
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Unknown
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code AKN
Departure City KING SALMON
Departure State AK
Departure Country
Departure Time 910
Departure Time Zone AST
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code KPV
Destination City PERRYVILLE
Destination State AK
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Cruise
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 --