ATL05CA074

According to the pilot, after about 30-minutes of flight he felt a slight shudder in the engine which lasted for about three seconds. The engine did not lose any power and all instruments remained in the green. About 5-minutes later, with no indication or warning, the engine immediately stopped and the propeller wind milled. During the forced landing the airplane struck a power line, and landed hard on the main landing gear. Examination of the engine found the carburetor broken at its attach point on the intake manifold on the bottom of the engine. The carburetor was removed and disassembled. Examination of the carburetor float bowl found reddish/brown particles resting in the bottom of the float bowl. Additionally, flakes of the reddish/brown particles were found clogging the carburetor jet pickup. A replacement carburetor was installed on the engine and the engine was started and was run up to 1500 revolutions per minute. The engine ran for about five-minutes before being shutdown with the mixture control.

On April 17, 2005, at 1600 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 172H, N1643F, registered to and operated by the private pilot, collided with a power line during a forced landing following a loss of engine power in Oakwood, Georgia. The personal flight was operated under the provisions of Title 14 CFR Part 91, and visual flight rules. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed for the local flight. The pilot and passenger were not injured and the airplane sustained substantial damage. The flight originated from Dekalb, Georgia, on April 17, 2005 at 1400.

According to the pilot, after about 30-minutes of flight he felt a slight shudder in the engine which lasted for about three seconds. The engine did not lose any power and all instruments remained in the green. About 5-minutes later, with no indication or warning, the engine immediately stopped and the propeller wind milled. He said that he was at about 2500 feet mean sea level (MSL) and had the airplane trimmed for cruise. He immediately identified a clearing and a road to land on and started trimming the airplane for best glide. He also applied carburetor heat, and cycled the magnetos. Engine restart procedures were unsuccessful. As the pilot maneuvered the airplane for a forced landing, the airplane struck a power line, and landed on the mains hard. After the airplane came to a complete stop he and his passenger exited the airplane uninjured and a passerby called 911.

Examination of the airplane found a cut in the right wing from the leading edge to the main spar with signs of arching around the cut. The empennage was bent downward from the rear of the aft cabin, with the horizontal stabilizers resting on the ground. The airplane was recovered by Atlanta Air Recovery for further examination. On April 28, 2005, examination of the engine found the carburetor broken at its attach point on the intake manifold on the bottom of the engine. The carburetor was removed and disassembled. Examination of the carburetor float bowl found reddish/brown particles resting in the bottom of the float bowl. Additionally, flakes of the reddish/brown particles were found clogging the carburetor jet pickup. A replacement carburetor was installed on the engine and the engine was started and was run up to 1500 rpm. The engine ran for about five-minutes before being shutdown with the mixture control.