On September 2, 2004, a Cessna 175 (registration N6517E) was involved in an aviation accident near DE Ridder, LA. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The partial 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.
A pilot reported a loss of engine power at 175 feet agl during takeoff. A forced landing was executed, with a left turn to avoid a localizer antenna, but the left wing struck a fence. The reason for the power loss could not be determined.
Incident Overview
A pilot with 290 hours of flight experience reported that shortly after takeoff, while the airplane was approximately 175 feet above ground level (agl) and roughly 4,000 feet down the 5,495-foot-long, 100-foot-wide runway, the engine lost power and the aircraft could not maintain altitude. The pilot elected to perform a forced landing, turning approximately seven degrees to the left of the runway centerline to avoid a localizer antenna located near the end of the runway. During the landing, the left wing of the airplane impacted a fence.
Post-Incident Actions
Following the event, the engine was subjected to a test run under the supervision of an FAA inspector. The investigation was unable to determine the reason for the reported loss of engine power.
Investigation Findings
No specific cause was identified for the engine power loss. No other contributing factors were noted in the source.