What happened
A student pilot was conducting touch-and-go landing exercises with a certified flight instructor on board. The pair had completed two successful maneuvers before initiating a third takeoff. Shortly after becoming airborne, the aircraft reached an altitude of approximately 150 feet above ground level when the engine ceased to function.
The pilot immediately initiated emergency procedures and executed a forced landing in the area situated between the two runways at Rockford. The aircraft came to rest safely without further incident.
The investigation
Following the incident, investigators conducted a thorough examination of the aircraft's powerplant to determine the root cause of the sudden stoppage. The inspection focused on identifying any mechanical defects or failures that could have occurred prior to impact.
The technical review revealed no evidence of pre-impact malfunction or failure within the engine components. This finding suggests that the cessation of power was not due to a latent mechanical defect detectable through standard post-accident examination.