20021012035699A

(.19) On October 12, 2002, at 2030 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 177RG, N7510V, was substantially damaged during a forced landing following a loss of engine power in South Vienna, Ohio. The certificated private pilot and passenger were seriously injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed for the personal flight conducted under 14 CFR part 91. In a written statement, the pilot stated that the flight originated at the mad river airport (I54), tremont city, Ohio, destined for the madison county airport (uyf), london, Ohio. The airplane was about 7 miles from the madison county airport, at an altitude of 2,500 feet, when the pilot began to smell something burning. The odor continued to intensify, and the engine lost power. The pilot then applied full mixture, turned the electric fuel pump on, and cycled the fuel selector position from 'both,' through the 'left,' and 'right' positions, and back to 'both'. He also cycled the magneto switch, and attempted to maintain 70 knots of airspeed. The pilot reported that he could see the madison county airport and had activated the pilot-controlled lights; however, he knew he would not be able to make it to the airport. The pilot then aimed for a "dark spot" on the ground and he kept the gear retracted, as he was unsure of the terrain beneath him. The pilot attempted to maintain an airspeed of 60 knots during the descent and did not flare during landing, as he could not see the ground. The airplane then impacted a soybean field in a nose-down attitude. Several witnesses observed the airplane flying overhead, and all of the witnesses stated the engine was not producing power prior to the impact. One witness stated he could only hear "the swoosh of the wings" as the airplane "glided in." Another witness stated the "motor was not on," and it appeared the pilot was "trying to make it to the airport." Examination of the engine by a federal aviation administration (FAA) inspector revealed the dual magneto had backed off its mounting bracket on the engine, and was observed lying in the engine cowling. The attaching hardware for the magneto was not located. The engine has been retained for further examination. The weather reported at dayton international airport (day), dayton, Ohio, at 1954, included winds from 210 degrees, at 6 knots, 5 miles visibility with haze, few clouds at 3,900 feet, broken clouds at 5,500 feet, temperature 19 degrees, dew point 17 degrees, and altimeter 30.08 inches hg. (-23) on October 12, 2002 at approximately 2030 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 177RG, N7510V, was substantially damaged while executing an engine out, gear up, forced landing in a soybean field near South Vienna, OH. The pilot and his one passenger were seriously injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the flight from mad river airport (I54) to madison couunty airport (uyf). No flight plan was filed, and the flight was conducted under 14 CFR part 91. According to the pilot, he was cruising at 2500', when he noticed an unusual odor and shortly after that, the engine quit. After attempting to restart the engine and failing to do so, he made a forced landing in the soybean field. The aircraft touched down hard, breaking the left wing spar and wrinkling the fuselage, empennage, firewall and damaging the propeller. Examination of the aircraft by the federal aviation administration safety inspector revealed that the mounting hardward for the single mounted, dual magneto was missing and the magneto had worked loose and was l aying in the accessory section.