20250207000489I

Incident · No damage

FAA incident report · Cessna 172N · Orange, VA · February 7, 2025

Date: February 7, 2025 · 14:28 local
Place: Orange, VA
Phase of flight: Cruise/Level Flight
Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
Damage: No damage
Aircraft: N4739D
Reported as: Cessna 172N
Reported engine: Lycoming 0-320 series
People aboard: 2
Fatal injuries: 0
Other injuries: 0
Pilot’s certificate: Private pilot
Pilot’s flight hours: 178 total

N4739DRegistered now · Cessna 172NS/N 17272346 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.

The pilot stated while cruising at 6,500 feet, the aircraft experienced a sudden drop in engine RPM. The pilot immediately diverted to an alternate airport. During the descent, the aircraft lost total engine power. Being unable to glide to the alternate airport, the pilot landed in a field. No injuries or damage were reported or observed.

During a post incident engine inspection, the dual magento was found to have failed. The failed magneto was removed and replaced with an overhauled magneto. A post maintenance run up was performed and all operations checked good.

As the FAA filed it

THE PILOT STATED WHILE CRUISING AT 6,500 FEET, THE AIRCRAFT EXPERIENCED A SUDDEN DROP IN ENGINE RPM. THE PILOT IMMEDIATELY DIVERTED TO AN ALTERNATE AIRPORT. DURING THE DESCENT, THE AIRCRAFT LOST TOTAL ENGINE POWER. BEING UNABLE TO GLIDE TO THE ALTERNATE AIRPORT, THE PILOT LANDED IN A FIELD. NO INJURIES OR DAMAGE WERE REPORTED OR OBSERVED.

DURING A POST INCIDENT ENGINE INSPECTION, THE DUAL MAGENTO WAS FOUND TO HAVE FAILED. THE FAILED MAGNETO WAS REMOVED AND REPLACED WITH AN OVERHAULED MAGNETO. A POST MAINTENANCE RUN UP WAS PERFORMED AND ALL OPERATIONS CHECKED GOOD.