Piper PA-28-140 N5705U

Summary

On 3 October 1996 at about 19:15 local time, a Piper PA-28-140 registered N5705U was involved in an accident near Plymouth, California, United States. 3 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

3 October 1996 at 19:15

Classification

Accident

Location

Plymouth, California, United States

Coordinates

38.4599, -120.8792

Aircraft

Piper PA-28-140

Registration

N5705U

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Jackson → Auburn

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

LAX97LA002

Nobody was injured.

failure of the #3 exhaust valve, which resulted in loss of engine power, a forced landing, and subsequent collision with a fence post.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

During flight, the pilot noted a severe engine vibration. He also noted a drop in engine rpm, EGT, and engine oil pressure, along with a loss of power. The engine rpm and oil pressure continued to drop, and the pilot was unable to maintain altitude. Also, the pilot noted smoke in the cockpit, which prompted him to make a forced landing. During the landing, the right wing struck a fence post. An inspection revealed that the #3 cylinder had ingested portions of the #3 exhaust valve. The exhaust valve fracture surfaces were peened.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.