Accident Details
On October 23, 2008, at approximately 1415 mountain standard time, a Cessna 172A (registration N7822T) experienced a total loss of engine power during initial climb from Sarita Airport, about 4 miles southeast of Coolidge, Arizona. The pilot reversed course and attempted a forced landing, but the airplane impacted the side of a ditch short of the runway. The commercial certificated pilot and a passenger received minor injuries, and the airplane sustained substantial damage. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed; no flight plan was filed.
Pilot and Aircraft Information
The pilot owned, operated, and maintained the airplane. He held an FAA airframe and powerplant mechanic certificate and had installed the Franklyn engine. The pilot reported that the preflight inspection revealed no mechanical problems, and the engine operated normally during the pretakeoff run-up. The last annual inspection was performed by the pilot, who was responsible for maintenance.
Engine Failure and Forced Landing
The accident occurred after takeoff from runway 17 at the uncontrolled airport. Upon climbing to about 300 feet above ground level, the engine suddenly lost all power without any unusual vibration, backfiring, or missing; the propeller began windmilling. The pilot immediately repositioned the fuel selector to draw fuel from the opposite wing tank and reversed direction. However, insufficient altitude prevented a return to the airport, and engine power was not restored. During impact, a wing broke, the windshield cracked, the firewall buckled, and cabin floor bulkheads bent. The pilot reported at least 10 gallons of fuel in each wing tank.
Post-Accident Examination
An FAA inspector from the Scottsdale Flight Standards District Office examined the airplane. The inspector reported finding "copious amounts of water in the fuel strainer, and evidence of water in the carburetor." Additional discrepancies included frayed electrical cords in the cockpit, missing placards, a finger-tight fuel line, and hornets' nests in the empennage and horizontal stabilizer.