What Really Goes on in an NTSB Investigation?   

Find out by following the link to http://www.avweb.com/news/avlaw/181884-1.html.  I found the article particularly interesting midway through where the subject header begins with "What Really Goes On in an NTSB Investigation?"

Mechanically minded?

Here are a couple of pictures I took with the #2 exhaust valve in sight.  One was taken on 07/09/03 (while the NTSB was investigating), the other was taken on 08/26/03.  Below is a quote from an article found at http://www.avweb.com.

"You might think that a valve that sticks open is a much less serious situation, but that's not necessarily so. If the valve is an intake valve, you lose power and will need to make a forced landing. If the valve is an exhaust valve, there will not be any compression on that cylinder.

In either case, if the valve spring can't close the valve, the entire valve train (cam follower, pushrod, and rocker arm) unloads. The end of the pushrod that rests in the socket in the cam follower may come out of the socket and fling around inside the tappet boss. If the pushrod ball does not locate itself back into the socket when the cam lobe comes around, it may jam against the tappet housing, usually causing crankcase damage."

Below is another quote from the NTSB preliminary report

"All cylinders produced a thumb compression when the crankshaft was rotated by hand."

NTSB Report

On June 30, 2004, two reports from the NTSB were published:  A "Factual" report and a "Probable Cause" report.  These reports were published just prior to the 1 year anniversary of this accident and, coincidentally, just prior to the NTSB "deadline" to complete these "investigations".  The accident was investigated by Ed Malinowski (NTSB Aviation Safety Investigator) - in which he stated publicly and to me, that every aspect of this accident would be investigated thoroughly.  Mr. Malinowski and his team (Cessna and Teledyne Continental Motors) have incredible talent which enabled them to derive their conclusions based on visual inspections of a wreckage for approximately 4 hours before signing over the wreckage to Mark's family and Schaumburg airport.  Furthermore, I have found that Mr. Malinowski's excellent ability to communicate and retain information enabled him to pass the responsibility to complete the reports to another NTSB Aviation Safety Investigator.

Could there be a conflict of interest by having Cessna and TCM representatives assist in the "investigation"?

The probable cause was listed as "The pilot not maintaining airplane control and the inadvertent stall he encountered during initial climb".  In my opinion, this statement is very broad and leaves it open for interpretation.  Consider the scenario with an engine malfunction - perhaps even a stuck valve during take off.   This could certainly cause an inadvertent stall, in which case the pilot would be unable to maintain airplane control.

What do I think of the NTSB report?  Well, the better question is - what do you think?

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