# NTSB ANC18LA013: Cessna 172R, N9730F, Huntingdon, TN, December 2, 2017 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: December 2, 2017, 13:30 local (19:30 UTC) - Place: Huntingdon, TN - Coordinates: 36.089168, -88.463333 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.0892&lon=-88.4633&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Initial climb: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report May 28, 2020 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 96480 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC18LA013 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/96480/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=96480 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC18LA013 ## Probable cause A total loss of engine power for reasons that could not be determined because a postaccident engine examination and testing revealed no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Not determined](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000): Not determined › Not determined · Unknown/Not determined (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172R, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md?model=2072401), [All aircraft, 2,247 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Initial climb: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 172R, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=2072401), [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md) - [Emergency descent: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440); cases with it: [Cessna 172R, 8 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=2072401), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Landing gear collapse](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094); cases with it: [Cessna 172R, 10 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md?model=2072401), [All aircraft, 1,787 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md) ## Analysis 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. ## Factual narrative 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. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N9730F](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N9730F), registered now, S/N 17280032 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 172R (R) - Registry model: [Cessna 172R](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172r) (registry code 2072401) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming I0360 SER A&C](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-i0360-ser-a-c) (registry code 41511, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 17280032 - Year built: 1997 - Airframe hours: 3822 - Engines: LYCOMING IO360 SER A&C 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, July 5, 2017 - Departed: HZD, Huntingdon, TN - Destination: HZD, Huntingdon, TN - Airport: HZD, Carroll County, runway 01, 5,507 × 100 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Auto-pilot ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 28; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; last flight review September 19, 2017; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 129.1 total, 118.6 in this make and model, 98.9 as pilot in command, 15.1 in the last 90 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 64 °F, dew point 18 °F - Altimeter: 30.12 inHg - Observed at: KHZD ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20171202018659A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20171202018659A), Dec 2, 2017: Cessna 172R, Huntington, TN, Substantial damage. Aircraft departed dzd VFR on runway 01, at about 300 ft aircraft experienced engine failure and landed in the grass field on the airport property. Nose gear… ## Docket (1 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on December 26, 2019, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=96480. 484 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 484 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40479395&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.