Midway International Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Bedford Park, Illinois 60459
Saturday, June 18, 2011 16:35 CDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot reported that about 5 miles from the destination the engine started to run rough, and about 20 seconds later the engine lost power. His attempts to restore engine power were unsuccessful. The pilot subsequently performed a forced landing to a field. During the landing roll the airplane nosed over on the soft field. A postaccident examination revealed that the No.3 cylinder exhaust valve push rod had buckled and fractured near mid-length. The push rod fracture surfaces showed failure signatures consistent with overload precipitated by a stuck valve. No other engine anomalies were observed.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

A loss of engine power due to a fractured push rod precipitated by a stuck exhaust valve.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 6/18/2011
Event Day of the Week Saturday
Time of Event 1635
Event Time Zone Central Daylight Time
Event City Bedford Park
Event State ILLINOIS
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 60459
Event Date Year 2011
Event Date Month 6
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 414710N
Event Location Longitude 0874509W
Event Location Airport Midway International
Event Location Nearest Airport ID MDW
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles 2
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation 620
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1651 Central Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 360
Weather Observation Facility ID MDW
Elevation of weather observation facility 620
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 2
Time Zone of the weather observation CDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 30000
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 14000
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Few
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Broken
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 26
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 19
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 70
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 13
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29.81
Density Altitude (feet) --
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 4
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 28748
NTSB Notification Source FAA-AGL ROC
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information --
Date of most recent change to record Sep 27 2011 12:32PM
User who most recently changed record johb
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N172NT
NTSB Number CEN11LA413
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
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 --
Aircraft Serial Number 17271113
Certified Max Gross Weight 2300
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class --
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 May 10 2011 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 67
Airframe Hours 5832
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type Unknown
Aircraft Owner Name Woma LLC
Aircraft Owner Street Address 6321 S Central Ave
Aircraft Owner City Chicago
Aircraft Owner State IL
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 60638-5521
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name Aviation Professionals Inc.
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address 6321 S Central Ave
Operator City Chicago
Operator State IL
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 60638-5521
Operator Code --
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
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 IGQ
Departure City Lansing
Departure State IL
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1610
Departure Time Zone CDT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code MDW
Destination City Chicago
Destination State IL
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Sep 22 2011 11:14AM
User who most recently changed record johb
Since inspection or accident Time of Accident
Event Location Runway Number and Location N/A
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --