What happened
Following the third touch-and-go landing on runway 36, the aircraft was on the downwind leg approximately one mile west of the departure runway. During this phase of flight, the student pilot notified the flight instructor (CFI) of a burning smell and reported that the engine was not producing power.
The CFI attempted to troubleshoot by advancing and retarding the throttle, noting that the manifold pressure needle moved in conjunction with the throttle movement. After returning control to the student, the student again reported the lack of engine power. The CFI then took control of the aircraft, turned east toward a taxiway for an emergency landing, and performed a hard landing short of the taxiway.
The investigation
Investigators determined that the fuel quantity was sufficient to maintain engine operation and found no contaminants in the fuel supply. Following the accident, the engine was started and operated up to 1,500 RPM, though its performance was limited by damage to the propeller assembly.
The engine was subsequently sent to the manufacturer's facility for testing. The only discrepancy identified during testing was that at a fuel flow of 80 PPH, the flow was 9 PPH leaner than specification. Ultimately, no determination could be made regarding the specific reason for the loss of engine power.