Accident Overview
On December 9, 2011, at 1040 eastern standard time, a Cessna 152 (registration N471TC) sustained substantial damage during a forced landing near Venice Municipal Airport (VNC) in Venice, Florida. The aircraft, registered to Florida Flight Training Center and operated by an individual, was on a 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed. The pilot was not injured.
Flight Sequence
The pilot, who held a private pilot certificate with an airplane single-engine land rating issued in September 2011, planned to practice flight maneuvers for an upcoming checkride. Before departure, he fueled the airplane and performed a preflight inspection with no anomalies. The aircraft had 18 gallons of fuel on board at takeoff. Departing VNC around 0955, the pilot flew to a practice area, executed maneuvers, then returned to the airport for touch-and-go landings. During the takeoff of the first touch-and-go on runway 04, the engine suddenly quit at an altitude between 100 and 150 feet above ground level (agl). The pilot initiated a left turn toward a nearby field but, realizing the airplane was too low, performed a forced landing between hangars. The aircraft struck powerlines and a hangar. Total flight time was 0.8 hours.
Witness Observations
Local police interviewed a witness on airport property who reported hearing the accident airplane's engine stop at 100 feet agl, then start again. The airplane continued climbing to 200 feet agl when the engine quit again, then started and stopped as the airplane turned left.
Examination and Testing
A Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector examined the airplane's fuel systems at the accident site. No discrepancies were found, and sufficient fuel was on board to operate the airplane. A post-wreckage recovery engine run conducted under FAA oversight included operational checks of the carburetor heat system and magnetos, as well as full power and engine acceleration checks. No anomalies were noted; the engine started, produced, and maintained power during the test run.
Pilot and Aircraft Information
The pilot reported 2,497 total flight hours, with 25 hours in the same make and model as the accident airplane. His most recent FAA third-class medical certificate was issued on August 25, 2011. The aircraft, manufactured in 1977, was equipped with a Lycoming O-235-L2C, 110-horsepower engine. Its most recent 100-hour inspection occurred on November 24, 2011, at 2,981.1 total hours time in service. The last oil change was performed on December 6, 2011, at 3,012.2 hours. At the time of the accident, the tachometer indicated 3,017.3 total hours.