What happened
On 19 July 2013, a Cessna F172M, registration EI-GSE, was performing a cross-country training flight involving an instructor and a student pilot. While executing a touch-and-go landing on Runway 17 at Cork Airport, the aircraft experienced a sudden and total loss of engine power at an altitude of approximately 200 to 400 feet.
Upon the failure, the instructor immediately took control of the aircraft. To avoid unsuitable terrain, the instructor performed a sharp left turn into the wind, aiming for a grassy area adjacent to the runway. The aircraft touched down on the grass, but due to the lack of effective braking on the turf, the aircraft continued to slide and eventually struck the airport's chain-link boundary fence. The impact caused damage to the right wing and the engine bulkhead, but there were no injuries to the two crew members.
The investigation
Investigators examined the aircraft's engine, fuel system, and maintenance records. The engine was found to be in good working order, and subsequent ground testing showed the engine could start and run normally. The fuel system was also found to be serviceable, with clean fuel and adequate flow from both tanks.
Technical analysis focused on the atmospheric conditions and the engine's operation during the approach. While the engine's power loss could not be definitively proven, investigators looked into the possibility of induction icing. The investigation also reviewed the instructor's maneuvers and the physical evidence at the landing site, including wheel marks on the grass and the damage to the aircraft's wing and propeller spinner.