Piper PA-28-180 N7405W

Summary

On 21 October 2020 at about 18:17 local time, a Piper PA-28-180 registered N7405W was involved in an accident near Show Low, Arizona, United States. One person was 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

21 October 2020 at 18:17

Classification

Accident

Location

Show Low, Arizona, United States

Coordinates

34.2655, -110.0057

Aircraft

Piper PA-28-180

Registration

N7405W

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Marana → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

WPR21LA020

Nobody was injured.

A partial loss of engine power due to the failure of the No. 4 cylinder exhaust valve.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot reported that, while in cruise flight about 8,000 ft mean sea level, there was a loud bang followed by severe engine vibration and the engine lost partial power. The pilot attempted to troubleshoot; however, the engine continued to produce less than full power. The pilot declared an emergency and performed a forced landing to a highway, during which the airplane’s right wing impacted a barbed wire fence, resulting in substantial damage. Examination of the engine revealed a stuck exhaust valve on the No. 4 cylinder. The exhaust valve head had separated from the valve stem. The loose valve head was found in the cylinder’s combustion chamber; the combustion chamber and piston dome exhibited damage consistent with repeated contact with the valve head. The loss of engine power is consistent with the failure of the No. 4 cylinder exhaust valve; however, the reason for the valve failure could not be determined based on the available information.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.