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CHI84LA050

1983-11-25 · ZANESVILLE, Ohio, United States · Minor · 1 aircraft · Status: Completed

Airport ZZV

Aircraft involved

Factual narrative

AFTER DEPARTING ZANESVILLE, OH, THE ACFT WAS AT 2500 FT MSL WHEN THE ENG BEGAN TO 'KNOCK'. THE COCKPIT FILED WITH SMOKE & THE ENG BEGAN TO LOSE OIL. THE PLT TURNED BACK TO LAND AT THE ARPT. HE REPORTED THAT THE ENG CONTINUED TO RUN UNTIL THE ACFT WAS ABOUT 3/4 OF THE WAY ON A DOWNWIND FOR RWY 22. AT THAT POINT, THE ENG FAILED. THE PLT MADE A FORCED LANDING APRX 1000 FT SHORT OF THE RWY. THE GROUND CONDITIONS WERE SOFT & THE GEAR COLLIDED. AN EXAM REVEALED THAT THE #3 PISTON HAD FAILED & THE #3 CYLINDER WAS HEAVILY GROOVED. THE #3 CYLINDER (CHROME) HAD BEEN INSTALLED APPRX 40 FT HRS PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT. ONE OF THE RINGS IN THE #3 PISTON WAS CHROME. ACCORDING TO THE MANUFACTURER, CHROME PLATED RINGS SHOULD NEVER BE USED IN CHROME PLATED CYLINDERS. AN UNAUTHORIZED, CHAMPION EM-41E, HOT RUNNING SPARK PLUG WAS USED IN THE #3 CYLINDER. THERE WAS EVIDENCE THAT THE INITIAL PISTON FAILURE WAS A DOME BURN THRU FROM DETONATION ON PRE-IGNITION. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database (Pre-2008 Archive) Retrieved: 2026-02-12

Verbatim from NTSB's published report. Source file NTSB_1983_CHI84LA050.txt. Findings + structured fields enriched from FAA avall.mdb. Full investigation docket on data.ntsb.gov ↗.

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