Summary
On August 24, 2008, a Cessna 172 (N3901R) was involved in an incident near Pullman, MI. All 1 person aboard were uninjured. The aircraft sustained substantial damage.
The National Transportation Safety Board determined the probable cause of this incident to be: A complete loss of engine power for undetermined reasons. A contributing factor was the rough terrain encountered during the forced landing.
The pilot reported that the purpose of the local flight was to put approximately two hours flight time on the engine after some recent maintenance work. The pilot indicated that takeoff and initial climb were normal. After about 50 minutes of flight, the engine hesitated and began to lose power. The pilot noted an initial drop in engine speed of 200 revolutions per minute (rpm). He established a course toward an intermediate airport approximately 6 miles from his present position. His efforts to restore full engine power were not successful, and the engine ultimately lost all power. He executed a forced landing to a corn field, substantially damaging the airplane. A post accident examination did not reveal any reason for the loss of power to the engine.
This incident is documented in NTSB report CHI08CA264. AviatorDB cross-references NTSB investigation data with FAA registry records to provide comprehensive safety information for aircraft N3901R.
Accident Details
Probable Cause and Findings
A complete loss of engine power for undetermined reasons. A contributing factor was the rough terrain encountered during the forced landing.
Aircraft Information
Registered Owner (Current)
Analysis
The pilot reported that the purpose of the local flight was to put approximately two hours flight time on the engine after some recent maintenance work. The pilot indicated that takeoff and initial climb were normal. After about 50 minutes of flight, the engine hesitated and began to lose power. The pilot noted an initial drop in engine speed of 200 revolutions per minute (rpm). He established a course toward an intermediate airport approximately 6 miles from his present position. His efforts to restore full engine power were not successful, and the engine ultimately lost all power. He executed a forced landing to a corn field, substantially damaging the airplane. A post accident examination did not reveal any reason for the loss of power to the engine.
Data Source
Data provided by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). For more information on this event, visit the NTSB Records Search website. NTSB# CHI08CA264