Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Challis, Idaho 83226
Saturday, June 22, 1991 9:45 MDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE CESSNA 180 WAS IN CRUISE FLIGHT A FEW MINUTES AFTER DEPARTURE WHEN THE ENGINE BEGAN RUNNING ROUGH AND LOST POWER. THE PILOT WAS UNABLE TO RETURN TO A SAFE LANDING SITE, SO ELECTED TO ATTEMPT A FORCED LANDING NEAR A RIVER. AN ENGINE TEARDOWN REVEALED THAT THE EXHAUST VALVE ROCKER SHAFT BOSS ON ONE CYLINDER HAD FAILED AND THE BROKEN PIECE MIGRATED UNDER THE INTAKE ROCKER SHAFT, WHERE IT CAUSED THE VALVE PUSH ROD TO BEND.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

THAT THE PILOT ENCOUNTERED UNSUITABLE TERRAIN DURING A FORCED LANDING AFTER A POWER LOSS DUE TO A FRACTURED CYLINDER BOSS AND A BENT ENGINE PUSHROD.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 6/22/1991
Event Day of the Week Saturday
Time of Event 945
Event Time Zone Mountain Daylight Time
Event City CHALLIS
Event State IDAHO
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 83226
Event Date Year 1991
Event Date Month 6
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 Pilot
Time of the weather observation 0
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID
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 Unknown
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 40
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) -18
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) -18
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 0
Variable Wind Indicator Variable
Wind Speed (knots) 0
Wind Velocity Indicator Light and Variable
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) --
Density Altitude (feet) 0
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 1
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 517
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time 0
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 44445
Date of most recent change to record Dec 18 2002 11:28AM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\GIUV
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N4700U
NTSB Number SEA91LA139
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 180G
Aircraft Series Identifier 180G
Aircraft Serial Number 18051400
Certified Max Gross Weight 2800
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 4
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Unknown
Date of Last Inspection --
Airframe hours since last inspection 0
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name MAXL WILLIS
Aircraft Owner Street Address P.O. BOX 1910
Aircraft Owner City WINNEMUCCA
Aircraft Owner State NV
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 89445
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name MAXL WILLIS
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address P.O. BOX 1910
Operator City WINNEMUCCA
Operator State NV
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 89445
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 No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code
Departure City FLYING B RANCH
Departure State ID
Departure Country
Departure Time 930
Departure Time Zone MDT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code
Destination City CAMAS CREEK
Destination State ID
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Landing
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:35AM
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 --