20140806015069A

Accident · Substantial damage

FAA accident report · Cessna 172N · Valkaria, FL · August 6, 2014

Date: August 6, 2014 · 09:30 local
Place: Valkaria, FL
Airport: Valkaria Airport
Phase of flight: Landing: Rollout
Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
Damage: Substantial damage
Aircraft: N9400E
NTSB investigation: NTSBERA14CA375
Reported as: Cessna 172N
Reported engine: Lycoming 0-320
People aboard: 1
Fatal injuries: 0
Other injuries: 1
Pilot’s certificate: Student
Pilot’s flight hours: 43 total43 in this make and model43 in the last 90 days

N9400ERegistered now · Cessna 172NS/N 17272249 · Built 1979 Airframe modelCessna 172N Engine modelLycoming 0-320 seriesReciprocating

From the FAA’s Accident/Incident Data System (AIDS), through its Aviation Safety Information Portal, as reported. The NTSB investigates accidents separately, and its record of an accident is the fuller one. The aircraft is matched to the registry by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

What happened

The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.

Student pilot (sp) on first-ever solo flight heard a loud "bang" from the engine, accompanied by substantial engine vibration and sudden partial loss of power to 1900 RPM during climb-out from runway 28 at Valkaria Airport, FL (X59). Sp elected to turn back to departure runway via course reversal. Sp transmitted words to the effect of "engine failure" over X59 UNICOM. Sp's instructor (ip) was ideally positioned to observe and assist via hand-held radio; ip issued certain troubleshooting instructions and landing checklist items to assist solo sp. Original power unable to be restored. Sp arrived over paved surface of runway 10 with excessive total energy to stop on runway. Aircraft overran runway and impacted perimeter chain link fence, coming to rest inverted. Sp received minor injuries (bloody nose), was checked out at local hospital and released without admittance. Aircraft incurred substantial damage.

As the FAA filed it

STUDENT PILOT (SP) ON FIRST-EVER SOLO FLIGHT HEARD A LOUD "BANG" FROM THE ENGINE, ACCOMPANIED BY SUBSTANTIAL ENGINE VIBRATION AND SUDDEN PARTIAL LOSS OF POWER TO 1900 RPM DURING CLIMB-OUT FROM RUNWAY 28 AT VALKARIA AIRPORT, FL (X59). SP ELECTED TO TURN BACK TO DEPARTURE RUNWAY VIA COURSE REVERSAL. SP TRANSMITTED WORDS TO THE EFFECT OF "ENGINE FAILURE" OVER X59 UNICOM. SP'S INSTRUCTOR (IP) WAS IDEALLY POSITIONED TO OBSERVE AND ASSIST VIA HAND-HELD RADIO; IP ISSUED CERTAIN TROUBLESHOOTING INSTRUCTIONS AND LANDING CHECKLIST ITEMS TO ASSIST SOLO SP. ORIGINAL POWER UNABLE TO BE RESTORED. SP ARRIVED OVER PAVED SURFACE OF RUNWAY 10 WITH EXCESSIVE TOTAL ENERGY TO STOP ON RUNWAY. AIRCRAFT OVERRAN RUNWAY AND IMPACTED PERIMETER CHAIN LINK FENCE, COMING TO REST INVERTED. SP RECEIVED MINOR INJURIES (BLOODY NOSE), WAS CHECKED OUT AT LOCAL HOSPITAL AND RELEASED WITHOUT ADMITTANCE. AIRCRAFT INCURRED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE.

NTSB investigation

The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.

NTSB ERA14CA375Accident · Minor injuriesData collectionFinal reportValkaria, FLThe pilot's misjudgment of speed and distance on final approach during a precautionary landing, resulting in a touchdown off the departure end of the runway and collision with terrain. A factor in the accident was a partial loss of engine power for reasons…Aug 6, 2014 · Substantial damage

Other reports on N9400E · 2

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.

Incident 19901018052599IFcd/Prec Ldg From Cruise · Bluefield, WVAirspeed indicator failed. In turbulence. Declared emergency. Had forgotten to turn on pitot heat.Oct 18, 1990 Incident 19800720062089ILevel Off Touchdown · Biloxi, MSHard landing damaged firewall and nose wheel.Jul 20, 1980 · Minor damage