What happened
The incident occurred during a training flight involving touch-and-go operations. Shortly after the aircraft departed from runway 4 following a touch-and-go maneuver, the engine experienced a sudden loss of power at an altitude of approximately 200 feet above ground level. The certified flight instructor (CFI), who was acting as the pilot in command, immediately assumed control of the aircraft to manage the emergency situation.
The CFI attempted to execute an emergency landing on runway 27. However, due to the low altitude and the sudden nature of the power loss, the aircraft was unable to establish proper alignment with the runway centerline. The aircraft drifted off the paved surface and impacted a rough grassy area adjacent to the airfield.
The impact forces caused the nose landing gear to collapse. There is no information provided regarding injuries to the occupants or damage to the rest of the airframe beyond the initial gear failure. No further details are available regarding the specific condition of the aircraft prior to the event or the weather conditions at the time of the incident.
The investigation
A thorough examination of the aircraft was conducted to determine the cause of the engine power loss. Investigators inspected the engine and related systems for any obvious mechanical failures, fuel system obstructions, or maintenance discrepancies that could have contributed to the event.
Despite the detailed inspection, no reason was found for the loss of power. The investigation did not identify any mechanical defects or operational errors that could explain why the engine ceased producing power during the critical phase of flight.