What happened
The incident occurred while the owner of the aircraft was conducting a biennial flight review with a certified flight instructor (CFI). Shortly after takeoff, at an altitude of approximately 700 feet, the engine stopped operating. The pilot identified what he believed to be the most suitable field for an emergency landing and began maneuvering toward it.
As the aircraft descended, the CFI assumed control of the aircraft in an attempt to reach a different field that was perceived as more favorable. During this phase of the forced landing, the right wing struck the ground. Subsequently, the left wing also impacted the surface, leading to the collapse of the landing gear.
The investigation
The primary focus of the examination was the sequence of events following the engine failure. Investigators noted that the aircraft sustained significant structural damage after the wings and landing gear collapsed upon impact with the ground. No mechanical defects were cited as a cause for the engine stoppage in the provided narrative, leaving the initial cause of the power loss unexplained in this excerpt.
Findings
The accident resulted from an engine failure during the initial climb phase. Contributing factors included the pilot's decision-making process regarding the landing site and the subsequent control transfer to the CFI, which did not prevent the hard landing. The aircraft sustained substantial damage to the airframe and propulsion system support structures.