Hamilton Municipal Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Hamilton, Texas 76531
Wednesday, September 5, 2012 15:55 CDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot reported that shortly after takeoff, about 400 feet above the ground, he sensed that the airplane was not climbing normally and that the engine was not producing takeoff power. The pilot stated that he made a forced landing after he was unable to restore takeoff power or maintain altitude. The airplane impacted a tree and descended a hill before coming to a stop. A postaccident engine examination revealed that the No. 3 cylinder exhaust valve was stuck in the full open position. No visible debris was noted under the valve seat that would have prevented the valve from closing. A stuck exhaust valve would have resulted in a loss of engine power. No additional malfunctions or failures were revealed during the engine examination that would have prevented normal operation. The engine had accumulated about 698 hours since its last major overhaul.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The partial loss of engine power due to an exhaust valve that was stuck in the open position.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 9/5/2012
Event Day of the Week Wednesday
Time of Event 1555
Event Time Zone Central Daylight Time
Event City Hamilton
Event State TEXAS
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 76531
Event Date Year 2012
Event Date Month 9
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 313957N
Event Location Longitude 0980855W
Event Location Airport Hamilton Municipal Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID MNZ
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles 0
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation 1305
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1555 Central Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) --
Weather Observation Facility ID MNZ
Elevation of weather observation facility 1305
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation CDT
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) 38
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 13
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 150
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 11
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 14
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29.86
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report KMNZ 052055Z AUTO 15011G14KT 10SM CLR 38/13 A2986
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 1
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 31888
NTSB Notification Source FAA - Southwest Regional Opera
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information --
Date of most recent change to record Sep 17 2013 7:56AM
User who most recently changed record foxt
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N8260T
NTSB Number CEN12LA609
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 175B
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 17556960
Certified Max Gross Weight 2350
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 Oct 5 2011 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 26
Airframe Hours 2979
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type Unknown
Aircraft Owner Name Pilot/Owner
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City Hamilton
Aircraft Owner State TX
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 76531
Operator is an individual? Yes
Operator Name Pilot/Owner
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address --
Operator City Hamilton
Operator State TX
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 76531
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 Yes
Departure Airport Code MNZ
Departure City Hamilton
Departure State TX
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1555
Departure Time Zone CDT
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code MNZ
Destination City Hamilton
Destination State TX
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Sep 17 2013 7:56AM
User who most recently changed record foxt
Since inspection or accident Last Inspection
Event Location Runway Number and Location 18
Runway Length 4998
Runway Width 75
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --