N172BJCessna 172M · 1974

On December 7, 2012, about 1457 central standard time, a Cessna 172M, N172BJ, experienced a total loss of engine power after takeoff from Houston Southwest Airport (AXH), Arcola, Texas. The pilot performed a forced landing to a field. The airplane nosed over and impacted terrain during the landing. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the wings and vertical stabilizer. The flight instructor and an a private pilot were uninjured. The airplane was registered to and operated by Dutch Wings LLC (dba Dutch Wings Flight School) under 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as an instructional flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and an instrument flight rules flight plan had been filed for the flight that was originating at the time of the accident.

The flight instructor stated that the private pilot performed a preflight of the airplane and had the airplane fueled. Fuel samples from the airplane fuel drains were free of contaminants. There were no abnormalities with the airplane during taxi to the runway or the engine runup. After takeoff, the airplane experienced a loss of engine power while climbing through about 500 feet above ground level. The flight instructor took the flight controls and performed a forced landing on a freshly plowed field where the airplane nosed-over.

Examination of the airplane revealed that the right fuel tank contained about one gallon of fuel and the left fuel tank was approximately full. The gascolator was full of fuel and the fuel line from the gascolator to the carburetor did not contain fuel. There was no fuel contamination present. Examination of the magnetos and carburetor, which were overhauled in 2010, did not reveal any anomalies that would have precluded normal operation. The master switch was in the on position, the key switch was in the off position, and the fuel selector was in the off position. The engine was rotated and cylinder compression and engine continuity was noted.

The student pilot stated he was performing a short field landing to runway 14 during his flight examination. Approximately 50 feet above ground level it was apparent to the pilot that he was not going to land on his intended touchdown point, and the flight examiner in the right seat directed the pilot to go-around. The student pilot applied full power, however, the airplane “landed hard” before becoming airborne again. The flight examiner took over the flight controls and successfully landed the airplane. An examination of the airplane revealed that the firewall was wrinkled, the nose gear bent, and the fuselage skin aft of the nose gear was wrinkled. The pilot and examiner were not injured. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical anomalies with the airplane and that weather was not a contributing factor.