Cessna 180K N2914K

Summary

On 15 July 1997 at about 22:20 local time, a Cessna 180K registered N2914K, operated by Goodfellow, Lynn U, was involved in an accident near Lake Mead, Nevada, United States. One person was on board and one had minor injuries. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

15 July 1997 at 22:20

Classification

Accident

Location

Lake Mead, Nevada, United States

Coordinates

36.2392, -115.0308

Aircraft

Cessna 180K

Registration

N2914K

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Goodfellow, Lynn U

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Business

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Boulder City → Spanish Fork

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

LAX97LA242

1 person had minor injuries.

Failure of the number 4 piston for undetermined reasons.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot reported that while climbing to cruise flight he heard a bang from the engine, followed by a major vibration. The engine continued vibrating and he was unable to maintain altitude, so he pulled the aircraft into a stall to stop and feather the propeller. He stated that he attempted to land in a parking lot, but came in too high and too fast. He touched down on a road and collided with a berm. A FAA inspector examined the aircraft and noted two holes in the engine case above the forward cylinder's connecting rods. Further examination of the powerplant revealed that the Nos. 2 and 6 cylinders were intact. Neither piston displayed any sign of heat discoloration around the skirts. Combustion deposits were noted on the piston crowns. There was no staining or piston crown edge erosion. Both skirts were failed. The No. 4 cylinder piston was disintegrated around the pin. The piston rod was bent and the piston pin was still intact through the rod wrist. Neither the rod nor the pin displayed any indication of heat distress. There was no scoring noted inside the cylinder barrel. The No. 4 bottom sparkplug was fouled with metal. The sump contained oil and large chunks of pistons. The pilot reported that the Continental O-470-U engine had 2536.1 hours of total time, 75.2 hours since the last inspection, and 806.8 hours since the last overhaul. The maintenance records revealed that the six pistons, each with a Superior Air Parts, Inc., part number SA 648029, were installed during the last major engine overhaul on February 19, 1990.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.