Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Weaver, Alabama 36277
Saturday, February 17, 2001 10:36 CST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot stated that while in cruise flight, the engine began to "pop" and lose power. He was unable to maintain altitude and made a forced landing in a field. During the landing roll, the airplane collided with a ditch and the nose landing gear separated. Postcrash examination of the engine showed the No. 4 cylinder intake push rod housing was dented inward and the push rod had rubbed on the housing and failed. It was not determined when the dent was made in the push rod tube.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Damage to the No. 4 cylinder intake valve push rod tube at an undetermined time which resulted in the push rod rubbing on the push rod tube and failing due to wear, resulting in loss of engine power and damage to the airplane during a forced landing in a field.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 2/17/2001
Event Day of the Week Saturday
Time of Event 1036
Event Time Zone Central Standard Time
Event City Weaver
Event State ALABAMA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 36277
Event Date Year 2001
Event Date Month 2
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 334520N
Event Location Longitude 0854830W
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 Full
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1053 Central Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 180
Weather Observation Facility ID ANB
Elevation of weather observation facility 612
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 5
Time Zone of the weather observation CST
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height --
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 7
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) -3
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 10
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 8
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30.37
Density Altitude (feet) 0
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 2
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 10752
NTSB Notification Source FAA ATL Comm. Center
NTSB Notification Date Feb 17 2001 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1130
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Oct 17 2001 9:02AM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\MONR
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office Birmingham

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N8556S
NTSB Number MIA01LA081
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed IFR
Flight plan Was Activated? Yes
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Cessna
Aircraft Model 182H
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 18256656
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 Annual
Date of Last Inspection Jul 22 1999 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 138
Airframe Hours 7861
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name John M. Duncan
Aircraft Owner Street Address 1286 SE Main Street
Aircraft Owner City Paoli
Aircraft Owner State IN
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 47454
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name --
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address --
Operator City --
Operator State --
Operator Country --
Operator Zip code --
Operator Code --
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? --
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation --
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 AUO
Departure City Auburn
Departure State AL
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 950
Departure Time Zone CST
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code FRH
Destination City French Lick
Destination State IN
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight Emergency landing
Report sent to ICAO? No
Evacuation occurred No
Date of most recent change to record Sep 27 2001 3:16PM
User who most recently changed record PREJ
Since inspection or accident Time of Accident
Event Location Runway Number and Location --
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --