19990414003509A

Acft crashed under uknown circumstances in bell canyon after doing pattern work at the Van Nuys practice area. (From .19) on April 14, 1999, at 1630 hours pacific daylight time, a Piper PA-28-161, N8466F, collided with terrain while simulating an engine out procedure during a biennial flight review near Van Nuys, California. The aircraft, operated under 14 CFR part 91 by the pilot, sustained substantial damage. The private pilot and check pilot were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions existed for the instructional flight and no flight plan was filed. The flight had originated at the Van Nuys airport at 1500. In an interview with the private pilot, he stated that the check pilot had simulated an engine failure by retarding the throttle to idle. He stated that when he applied full power to go-around, the airspeed and the aircraft were too low. He reported that the "application of full power could not arrest the sink rate the aircraft was experiencing." The pilot stated that the landing was not hard, but that the aircraft landed in high vegetation and may have struck a dirt mound because the landing gear was torn off. In an interview with the check pilot, he stated that they had been in traffic pattern for approx. 1 hr conducting landings, takeoffs, and emergency procedures. He then had the private pilot take him to the accident location to simulate engine out procedures. At 2,600 feet AGL, the check pilot reduced the power to idle and instructed the pilot to conduct the approach along a dirt road. At 50 feet AGL he was satisfied with the maneuver and instructed the pilot to go-around. The pilot froze on the controls and the check pilot was unable to gain control of the aircraft before it touched down off of the dirt road. The check pilot stated the landing was not hard but that the aircraft did land in tall grass and struck something. No mechanical anomalies were noted. (-23)^priv^ (CFI) pulled power to idle to simulate emergency landing,privacy data omitted (student) made it to approx. 50 feet AGL without incident. ^priv^ told him to go around, as privacy data omitted applied power he veered to the left, ^priv^ said I got the controls and tried to save the situation but the student overpowered him on the controls. The aircraft landed in the grass and the right main and nose gear broke off. (.4)the purpose of the flight was to conduct a biennial flight review. The private pilot and check pilot had spent an hour in the traffic pattern reviewing takeoffs, landings, and emergency procedures. The check pilot reported that the private pilot had conducted the maneuvers satisfactorily, and he requested that the private pilot take him to the accident location to simulate engine out procedures. Once at the accident location, the check pilot reduced the power to idle and instructed the pilot to conduct the approach on a dirt road. The check pilot reported that at 50 feet AGL, he was satisfied with the maneuver and instructed the pilot to go around. The private pilot stated that he applied full power to go around, but the airspeed and the aircraft were too low and the application of power could not arrest the rate of descent prior to contacting the ground. The check pilot said that the pilot did not react to his request to discontinue the maneuver and froze on the controls. The check pilot was unable to gain control of the aircraft prior to it touching down off the dirt road and striking a dirt mound in the grass. No mechanical anomalies were noted with the aircraft or e ngine by either of the pilots.