Piper PA-28-235 N8555W

Summary

On 22 December 2002 at about 22:00 local time, a Piper PA-28-235 registered N8555W was involved in an accident near Carleton, Michigan, 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

22 December 2002 at 22:00

Classification

Accident

Location

Carleton, Michigan, United States

Nearest airport

Willow Run (YIP)

Coordinates

42.0181, -83.3772

Aircraft

Piper PA-28-235

Registration

N8555W

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Pontiac → Monroe

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

CHI03LA043

Nobody was injured.

The #2 cylinder exhaust valve failed due to undetermined reasons. A factor associated with the accident was the soft terrain encountered during the forced landing.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The nose gear collapsed during an off airport forced landing following a loss of engine power. The pilot reported that while en route to his destination, the engine power dropped to 1,300 rpm. He stated he applied carburetor heat, turned on the auxiliary fuel pump, and switched fuel tanks to no avail. The pilot reported that the passenger checked the engine instruments and all indications were normal. The pilot contacted the Willow Run Air Traffic Control Tower and informed them of the situation, stating that he was going to land at their airport. After turning toward the airport, the pilot determined he was not going be able to reach the airport, so he pilot selected a plowed field in which to land. The nose gear collapsed during the landing and the airplane came to rest on the engine cowling and main landing gear. Examination of the engine revealed the #2 cylinder exhaust valve was broken off and a piece of the #2 cylinder was missing. Portions of the exhaust valve and valve stem were recovered from the engine. Visual examination revealed the fractured surfaces were deformed and obscured by impact damage to such a degree that the failure mode could not be determined.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.