Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Lake Los Angele, California 93539
Sunday, April 14, 2002 20:45 PDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

An engine cylinder barrel failure occurred during cruise flight and the airplane force landed in unsuitable terrain causing substantial damage. The failed cylinder had been repaired by a Federal Aviation Administration Approved Repair Station, and had been installed 11 hours prior to the accident. Post accident examination revealed that the number 3 engine cylinder steel barrel had separated 360 degrees around its circumference. Close examination of the failed cylinder barrel revealed fatigue cracking originating from a rusty area on the cylinder barrel. Additionally, cooling fin rust damage had the appearance of having been profiled by filing or grinding.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

a reconditioned engine cylinder barrel failure due to previous rust damage and improper maintenance practices.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 4/14/2002
Event Day of the Week Sunday
Time of Event 2045
Event Time Zone Pacific Daylight Time
Event City Lake Los Angele
Event State CALIFORNIA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 93539
Event Date Year 2002
Event Date Month 4
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 343746N
Event Location Longitude 1180504W
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 Not pertinent
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 2053 Pacific Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 260
Weather Observation Facility ID PMD
Elevation of weather observation facility 2543
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 10
Time Zone of the weather observation PDT
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) 23
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 6
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 250
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 7
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30.02
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Minor
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor 2
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 2
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 16535
NTSB Notification Source FAA
NTSB Notification Date Apr 14 2002 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 2115
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information DMS
Date of most recent change to record Oct 28 2004 10:11AM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\MONR
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office Van Nuys, CA FSDO

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N211CA
NTSB Number LAX02LA136
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? No
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Cessna
Aircraft Model 172
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 17256543
Certified Max Gross Weight 2300
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 Dec 22 2001 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 78
Airframe Hours 3941
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name Frank N. Surfas
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City --
Aircraft Owner State --
Aircraft Owner Country --
Aircraft Owner Zipcode --
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name --
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address 455 Enterprise Ct
Operator City Boulder City
Operator State NV
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 89005
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 --
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code APV
Departure City Apple Valley
Departure State CA
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 2030
Departure Time Zone PDT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code VNY
Destination City Van Nuys
Destination State AZ
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight Cruise
Report sent to ICAO? No
Evacuation occurred No
Date of most recent change to record Aug 19 2004 5:46PM
User who most recently changed record COOS
Since inspection or accident Time of Accident
Event Location Runway Number and Location NA
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --