Cessna 182P N6525M

Summary

On 30 May 2013 at about 20:28 local time, a Cessna 182P registered N6525M, operated by Richard Secord, was involved in an accident near Brevard, North Carolina, 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

30 May 2013 at 20:28

Classification

Accident

Location

Brevard, North Carolina, United States

Nearest airport

Brevard Airport (NC16)

Coordinates

35.2225, -82.7267

Aircraft

Cessna 182P

Registration

N6525M

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Richard Secord

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Atlanta → Roanoke

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ERA13LA262

1 person had minor injuries.

The cylinder manufacturer's misalignment of the exhaust valve guides in the No. 2 cylinder during manufacture, which resulted in the exhaust valve sticking and the pushrod breaking and the subsequent total loss of engine power.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot reported that the airplane was in cruise flight at 9,500 feet mean sea level when he heard a loud noise and then popping sounds coming from the engine. He then smelled smoke and saw oil trailing from the engine compartment down the outside of the airplane. As the pilot maneuvered for a forced landing at a nearby airport, the engine produced intermittent power and then lost power completely. The pilot maneuvered the airplane for landing, but the runway was obstructed by cars and farm equipment, so he landed the airplane long. After touchdown, the pilot maneuvered the airplane into a small knoll between the airport and an elementary school where it struck a berm and came to rest. Postaccident examination of the engine revealed that the No. 2 cylinder exhaust valve was stuck and that its associated pushrod was bent, worn through, and fractured as a result of compression loading near its midpoint due to the stuck exhaust valve. Examination of the cylinder and its associated parts revealed that the exhaust valve guides were misaligned during manufacture, which subsequently resulted in the valve guide wearing unevenly, the valve sticking, the pushrod breaking, and the subsequent total loss of engine power.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.