Piper PA-22-135 N1429C

Summary

On 16 June 1991 at about 20:00 local time, a Piper PA-22-135 registered N1429C, operated by Dennis KT. Kirby/John C Davis, was involved in an accident near Sonita, Arizona, United States. 2 people were on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

16 June 1991 at 20:00

Classification

Accident

Location

Sonita, Arizona, United States

Coordinates

31.7496, -110.6591

Aircraft

Piper PA-22-135

Registration

N1429C

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Dennis KT. Kirby/John C Davis

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Tucson → Ft. Huachuca

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

LAX91LA260

Nobody was injured.

A LOSS OF ENGINE POWER DUE TO A BROKEN PISTON RING IN THE NUMBER 3 CYLINDER, WHICH RESULTED IN THE AIRCRAFT'S INABILITY TO MAINTAIN LEVEL FLIGHT.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

DURING CRUISE FLIGHT, THE AIRPLANE'S ENGINE BEGAN TO RUN ROUGH. THE PILOT EXECUTED EMERGENCY PROCEDURES TO TRY TO REGAIN ADEQUATE POWER. THE POWER WAS NOT RESTORED AND THE AIRCRAFT COULD NOT MAINTAIN LEVEL FLIGHT. THE PILOT EXECUTED A FORCED LANDING TO A FIELD. DURING THE LANDING ROLL, THE AIRCRAFT COLLIDED WITH A DITCH, TRAVELED ABOUT 20 YARDS, AND NOSED OVER. EXAMINATION OF THE AIRCRAFT'S ENGINE REVEALED THAT A PISTON RING IN THE NUMBER 3 CYLINDER WAS BROKEN WHICH ALLOWED BLOW BY IN THE CYLINDER. THE PILOT SAID THAT HE HAD VAPOR LOCK. HE TOLD AN FAA SAFETY INSPECTOR THAT HE HAD USED AUTOMOBILE GAS FOR THE FLIGHT AND THE GAS WAS TRANSPORTED USING 'OLD CANS' FROM HIS FATHER'S HOUSE. NO EVIDENCE WAS FOUND TO INDICATE THAT THE AIRCRAFT'S ENGINE HAD VAPOR LOCK.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.