BFO96LA041

The student pilot reported that after he levelled the airplane off at his selected cruise altitude (2000 ft. MSL), the engine lost power. His attempts to restart the engine were unsuccessful. During the ensuing forced landing, the student pilot chose to '...Turn the aircraft right approximately 40 degrees due to [the] upsloping terrain,' to avoid a residential structure in the aircraft's path, The aircraft struck a carport approximately 300 feet from the initial touchdown point. Postaccident investigation of the engine revealed no evidence of preimpact mechanical anomaly.

On January 28, 1996, at 1630 eastern standard time, a Cessna 172D, N2315U, sustained substantial damage when it struck a carport while making an emergency landing in a residential area near Rineyville, Kentucky. The student pilot, the sole occupant, received no injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the flight, and no flight plan was filed. The solo instructional flight was conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. The flight originated from Vine Grove, Kentucky, at approximately 1625 eastern standard time. The intended destination was Elizabethtown, Kentucky.

The student pilot reported that he departed Vine Grove and climbed to his intended cruise altitude of 2000 feet Mean Sea Level (MSL). He stated that he "...observed [a] loss of [engine power] from 2300 RPM cruise setting to approximately 1500 RPM...continued to decay after carburetor heat was fully applied." The student pilot reported that moments later, the engine lost power completely, so he began emergency procedures and set up for an emergency landing. The student pilot stated that his attempts to restart the engine were unsuccessful.

The student pilot stated that during the emergency descent, "...with the propeller windmilling, [the] engine caught and ran momentarily...but never developed full power." The student pilot reported that "...initial touchdown was made without incident...no damage to [the] aircraft." He stated that he became concerned that he wouldn't be able to stop the aircraft before it reached a residential structure which was "...approximately 400 feet from initial touchdown point." He stated that he chose to "...turn the aircraft right approximately 40 degrees due to upsloping terrain." The aircraft impacted a carport approximately 300 feet after the initial touchdown point.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Inspector reported that the initial postaccident inspection revealed no evidence of preimpact mechanical anomaly. He noted that there was fuel present throughout the fuel system. A replacement propeller was installed on the engine for an engine run up. The FAA Inspector stated that the engine was started, ran normally at idle power setting, and accelerated to 2300 RPM with no evidence of preimpact mechanical malfunction. The FAA Inspector's statements are appended.