According to the pilot, after adding fuel to the Champion, he departed from Calhoun County Airport (KPKV) in Texas and flew along the coastline.
About 15 minutes into the flight, the engine lost power. He established best glide airspeed and turned the airplane towards land.
The airplane would not hold altitude and hit terrain and brush about 400 yards from the coastline.
A small post-crash fire developed in the engine compartment. Substantial damaged was noted to the wing struts and bottom fuselage. Damage was also found on the main landing gear and propeller.
The wreckage was recovered to a hangar and an engine examination was conducted, which found the No. 3 intake valve stuck in the open position.
It was also noted that the valve springs on all the cylinders were weak, however it could not be determined if this was due to heat from the post-crash engine compartment fire.
Probable Cause: The loss of engine power due to a stuck intake valve.
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This July 2020 accident report is provided by the National Transportation Safety Board. Published as an educational tool, it is intended to help pilots learn from the misfortunes of others.
Per the A&P IA report, it was the EXHAUST valve in #3 cylinder that was stuck partly open, not the intake valve.
So this 377 hr engine was poorly operated, not leaning the mixture, or the carb was set way too rich.
The other possibility is that the valve guides were not reamed to the correct size, causing too little clearance with the valve stem.
So, the G100UL would keep engines like this from having deposits cause stuck valves.!
Freedom to burn leaded gas and relief from EPA regulations will keep future generations from flying. Think ahead not just for today. Almost all GA flying is a luxury, not a necessity. I am ATP multi- type rated and think all of us can fly safe and free tomorrow if we take care of our planet today.
The EPA people are the problem. No man can control the THE SUN NOR THE ROTATION AND TILT OF THE EARTH!!! It’s all about the money!! We the people are paying for the price for the ignorant!!
Sounds like another case of “100 low lead” poisoning of small Continental powerplants! Bring back the red gas!