De Havilland TIGER MOTH DH 82A N5300

Summary

On 23 January 2022 at about 23:28 local time, a De Havilland TIGER MOTH DH 82A registered N5300 was involved in an accident near Lampasas, Texas, United States. 2 people were on board and 2 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

23 January 2022 at 23:28

Classification

Accident

Location

Lampasas, Texas, United States

Coordinates

31.0729, -98.2332

Aircraft

De Havilland TIGER MOTH DH 82A

Registration

N5300

Category

Airplane

Year built

1940

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Lampasas → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

CEN22LA106

2 people had minor injuries.

The failure of a bolt in the engine valve system which resulted in malfunction of the engine exhaust valve system and a partial loss of engine power. The rough terrain encountered during the forced landing contributed to the outcome.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The airplane’s engine lost partial power and the pilot was unable to maintain altitude. He executed a forced landing to a terraced farm field. During the landing, the airplane struck one of the terraced areas and nosed over. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the rudder, engine mounts, and lower right wing. Postaccident examination of the engine revealed that the ball end of the No. 2 cylinder exhaust valve rocker was not seated in the pushrod. Additionally, the head of one of the bolts securing the rocker arm bracket had fractured and the bolt head was found in the rocker cover. Based on the available evidence it is likely that the fractured bolt head allowed enough movement of the No. 2 cylinder rocker arm bracket for the pushrod to become separated from the ball end of the rocker arm. This prevented the exhaust valve for the No.2 cylinder from opening and thereby reducing the power output of the engine.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.