Incident Overview
On March 28, 2007, at 0230 coordinated universal time, a Piper PA-28-181 aircraft, bearing Jordan registration JY-RJC and operated by the Royal Jordanian Air Academy, experienced a mechanical issue during the initial climb following a touch-and-go at Marka International Airport in Amman, Jordan. The number 3 cylinder head, manufactured by Engine Components International (ECi), separated from the cylinder barrel adjacent to the top barrel thread. The flight crew returned the airplane to the runway, where it landed without further incident.
Recurring Issue
This event marked the third occurrence of cylinder head separation on aircraft operated by the Royal Jordanian Air Academy since November 2006. The Jordanian Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) collected all three failed cylinders and sent them to the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) Materials Laboratory for examination.
Investigation Jurisdiction
The investigation is under the jurisdiction and control of the Jordanian government. For additional information, inquiries may be directed to the Civil Aviation Regulatory Commission in Amman, Jordan.