What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?

The accident on 2002-10-31 involved a Cessna 177RG, registration N35866, at Marshall, AR.

Engine Power Loss Leads to Forced Landing and Rollover (N35866)

On October 31, 2002, a Cessna 177RG (registration N35866) was involved in an aviation accident near Marshall, AR. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The loss of engine power for undetermined reasons. A contributing factor was the lack of suitable terrain for the forced landing. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.

An airplane experienced engine power loss twice during a flight. After the second total loss, the pilot performed a forced landing to a field, where the airplane struck a ditch, flipped over, and came to rest inverted. Examination found no anomalies; the cause was not determined.

Event Description

Approximately 5 miles from the departure airport, the engine began to lose power. The pilot turned the airplane back toward the airport, but the engine regained power, and the pilot chose to continue the flight. About 25 minutes later, the engine gradually lost power again, and after 2 minutes, it experienced a total loss of power. The pilot attempted to restore engine power by checking the magnetos and fuel boost pump, and adjusting the throttle, mixture, and propeller settings. Unable to restart the engine, the pilot initiated a forced landing to a field.

During the forced landing, the airplane struck a ditch, flipped over, and came to rest inverted.

Examination and Findings

A subsequent examination of the engine and airframe revealed no anomalies. The engine was test run at various low power settings with no anomalies noted. The reason for the total loss of engine power was not determined.

2002-10-31: Cessna 177RG (N35866) — Marshall, AR

Event Description

Examination and Findings

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