Cessna 172N Noses Over During Forced Landing on Dirt Surface (N6230D)

Accident Overview and Pilot Report During the landing roll, a Cessna 172N nosed over in soft soil after a forced landing. The pilot reported that the engine was running rough and losing power. The pilot landed the airplane on an airport but was unable to maneuver it to a runway. The aircraft decelerated to about 20 mph during the ground roll on dirt. The airplane nosed over after the nose gear struck a dirt bank that was 15 to 18 inches high. ## Engine Examination and Maintenance Records An A&P mechanic examined the engine and found that the number three cylinder intake valve was tuliped. According to the airplane's maintenance records, the engine had accrued 2,850 hours of operation without overhaul. Forty-four hours before the accident, the engine's cylinder compression checked OK during a leak test. The engine manufacturer recommended a time between overhauls of 1,500 hours. During overhaul, the valves are removed and visually checked for wear.