ANC18LA013

The pilot reported that shortly after takeoff and during the initial climb, about midfield of the departure runway, the engine lost total power. Unable to land on the remaining runway, he executed a 90° left turn and selected a grass field as an off-airport landing site. During the forced landing, the nose landing gear collapsed, and the airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage. A postaccident examination and engine test run revealed no evidence of preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation.

On December 2, 2017, about 1330 central standard time, a Cessna 172 airplane, N9730F, sustained substantial damage during a forced landing following a total loss of engine power shortly after takeoff from Carroll County Airport (KHZD), Huntingdon, Tennessee. The airplane was registered to a private individual and operated by the pilot as a visual flight rules flight under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 when the accident occurred. The private pilot was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed. The pilot reported that after completing the preflight inspection and the before takeoff checklist, he departed runway 01 from KHZD. Shortly after takeoff, during the initial climb, about midfield of the departure runway the engine lost all power. Unable to land on the remaining runway, he executed a 90° left turn, and selected a grass field as an off-airport landing site. During the forced landing the nose gear collapsed, and the airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage. On January 9, 2018 the engine while still mounted on the accident airplane's airframe was operated under the direction of the NTSB IIC. The engine started normally without hesitation or stumbling in the observed RPM. The engine was not run at full power due to impact damage to the airframe sustained during the accident, but it was operated at various idle power settings and up to about 2000 rpm. During the engine test the magnetos were checked, and a drop of about 50 rpm was noted for both the left and right magnetos. No anomalies were noted that would have prevented normal operation and the production of rated horsepower. The closest weather reporting facility was Carroll County Airport (KHZD), Huntingdon, Tennessee. At 1335, a METAR from KHZD was reporting, in part: wind calm; visibility, 10 statute miles; clouds and sky condition, clear; temperature, 64 °F; dew point 18° F; altimeter, 30.12 inches of mercury.