Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Seligman, Arizona 86337
Sunday, August 13, 1989 11:11 MST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE PILOT REPORTED THAT WHILE IN CRUISE FLIGHT, A SEVERE VIBRATION BEGAN IN THE ENGINE WITH A CORRESPONDING REDUCTION IN ENGINE RPM TO ABOUT 1500. THE PILOT NOTED THAT ALL ATTEMPTS AT REMEDIAL ACTION MET WITH NO SUCCESS AND THE ENGINE WAS PRODUCING INSUFFICIENT POWER TO MAINTAIN FLIGHT. THE PILOT ATTEMPTED TO LAND ON AN INTERSTATE HIGHWAY BUT THERE WAS TOO MUCH VEHICLE TRAFFIC TO MAKE A SAFE LANDING. THE PILOT THEN LANDED IN A DIRT FIELD ADJACENT TO THE HIGHWAY, CONTACTED A LARGE BERM DURING THE LANDING ROLL OUT AND THE AIRCRAFT NOSED OVER ON ITS BACK. EXAMINATION OF THE ENGINE REVEALED HEAVY DEPOSITS ON THE INTAKE AND EXHAUST VALVES. THE EXHAUST VALVE FOR THE NUMBER 3 CYLINDER WAS IN THE CLOSED POSITION AND COULD NOT BE MOVED. DETAILED EXAMINATION OF THE NUMBER 3 CYLINDER REVEALED THAT THE ROCKER ARM PIVOT STUD FOR THE EXHAUST VALVE WAS BROKEN WITH SHEAR SIGNATURES EVIDENT.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

A LOSS OF ENGINE POWER DUE TO A FAILURE OF THE NUMBER 3 CYLINDER EXHAUST VALVE ROCKER ARM PIVOT STUD, WHICH WAS IN TURN CAUSED BY A STUCK EXHAUST VALVE.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 8/13/1989
Event Day of the Week Sunday
Time of Event 1111
Event Time Zone Mountain Standard Time
Event City SELIGMAN
Event State ARIZONA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 86337
Event Date Year 1989
Event Date Month 8
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 0
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 None
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) 21
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 0
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 0
Wind Velocity Indicator Calm
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) --
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 2
Injury Total None 2
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 2
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 1700
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Aug 13 1989 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1220
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 40603
Date of most recent change to record Dec 13 2000 12:58PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N5961J
NTSB Number LAX89LA273
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 172N
Aircraft Series Identifier 172N
Aircraft Serial Number 17273847
Certified Max Gross Weight 2400
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 Annual
Date of Last Inspection Jun 26 1989 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 37
Airframe Hours 6130
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name GERALD J. FITZGERALD
Aircraft Owner Street Address 111 BOULDER DRIVE
Aircraft Owner City PRESCOTT
Aircraft Owner State AZ
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 86301
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name NORTH AIR, INC.
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address PRESCOTT MUNICIPAL AIRPORT
Operator City PRESCOTT
Operator State AZ
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 86301
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 PRC
Departure City PRESCOTT
Departure State AZ
Departure Country
Departure Time 941
Departure Time Zone MST
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code
Destination City
Destination State
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 0
Runway Width 0
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --