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Aviation safety reports, made easier to study

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NTSB Report

May 28, 1994 · Piper PA-20 · N6174D

Anchorage, AK

Overview

Report Status
Final with probable cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
May 28, 1994
Injury Outcomes
No injuries (2 uninjured)
Location
Anchorage, AK
Aircraft
Piper PA-20
Tail Number
N6174D
Operator
Robert Gaines
Injuries
None
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
ANC94LA061

THE PILOT EXECUTED A FORCED LANDING AFTER AN EXHAUST VALVE FAILED AND WAS INGESTED INTO THE CYLINDER SHORTLY AFTER TAKEOFF. A RETURN TO THE AIRPORT WAS NOT POSSIBLE. AIRPORT CONGESTION AND BUILDINGS LIMITED EMERGENCY LANDING AREAS AND THE PILOT COMPLETED A DITCHING IN A SWAMPY AREA ADJACENT TO AIRPORT FIRE STATION.

NTSB Probable Cause

THE FAILURE OF AN EXHAUST VALVE. THE LACK OF SUITABLE TERRAIN FOR A FORCED LANDING WAS A FACTOR.

Full Narrative

On May 28, 1994, at 1435 Alaska daylight time, a wheel equipped Piper PA-20 airplane, N6174D, experienced a total power loss during departure climb from Anchorage International Airport. The private pilot executed a forced landing in a swampy area beside the airport crash-fire station, where the plane's landing roll was arrested by the station's chain link fence. The flight was conducted under 14 CFR Part 91 in visual meteorological conditions for personal reasons on a flight from Anchorage to a beach location near Trading Bay on Cook Inlet. No flight plan was on file. The pilot and his passenger were uninjured, however the airplane sustained substantial damage. The pilot stated that the engine began to run rough during climb at 500 feet altitude. He said that he requested an immediate landing at the Lake Hood strip, east of the Anchorage departure runways, however during the turn to that landing the engine experienced total loss of power and the forced landing in the swampy area was necessitated. An external examination of the engine revealed a failure of a cylinder on the O-320 engine had occurred. Upon teardown examination, a failure of an exhaust valve at the stem, and it's subsequent ingestion, was apparent. The private pilot had approximately 3000 hours pilot experience in type and one hundred in the previous 90 day. He was able to execute a precision forced landing to a swamp area less than 200 feet in length and utilize an chain-link fence as an arresting barrier.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time14:35 AKDT
Nearest AirportAnchorage International (1nm NW)
Runway32
Runway Length10496 ft
Runway Width150 ft
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftPiper PA-20
Tail NumberN6174D
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageSubstantial
OperatorRobert Gaines
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsLycoming · O-320 · Reciprocating · 150
Seats2

People & Injuries

Injury SummaryNo injuries (2 uninjured)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured2
Total2
Crew 1Age 46 · Third Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind320° @ 5 kt
Visibility30 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point61 F / 50
Altimeter0
Weather SourcePILO

Appendix: Source Data