FLAMINGO, FL, USA
N56118
PIPER PA-28-140
DURING NORMAL CRUISE FLT, THE ENG RPM DROPPED FROM 2,400 TO 1,900. THE PLT ATTEMPTED TO CORRECT THIS BUT WAS UNSUCCESSFUL. UNABLE TO MAINTAIN ALTITUDE, HE LANDED THE ACFT IN A FIELD BUT DURING THE LANDING ROLL, THE LT WING WAS SEVERED AFTER IMPACT WITH A TREE. THE ACFT ROLLED INVERTED & CAME TO REST. EXAM OF THE ENG REVEALED THAT THE NO. 3 CYLINDER EXHAUST VALVE FAILED. DUR TO DAMAGE TO THE FRACTURE SURFACE, NO DETERMINATION COULD BE MADE AS TO THE REASON FOR THE FAILURE. REVIEW OF THE ENG LOGBOOKS REVEALED THAT IN OCTOBER 1979, THE EGN WAS OVERHAULED WHICH INCLUDED IN PART, REPLACEMENT OF THE EXHAUST VALVES. SINCE THAT TIME THE ENG HAD ACCUMULATED APRX 1,400 HRS.
PARTIAL LOSS OF ENGINE POWER DUE TO FAILURE OF THE NO. 3 CYLINDER EXHAUST VALVE FOR UNDETERMINED REASONS. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS LACK OF SUITABLE TERRAIN DURING THE FORCED LANDING.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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