Accident Overview
On September 25, 2017, at approximately 1715 local time, a Cessna 172P airplane, registered as N5448K, impacted terrain following a loss of engine power near Guam International Airport (PGUM) in Tamuning, Guam. The airplane, operated by Sky Guam Aviation, Inc. as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 sightseeing flight, sustained substantial damage. The commercial pilot and two passengers were not injured.
Flight Details
The accident flight originated from PGUM at 1650 as a 20-minute local sightseeing flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed. The pilot reported a normal preflight and no issues during the initial portion of the flight.
Pilot Report
While en route, the pilot observed fire sparks with smoke on the left side of the aircraft, and smoke began to fill the cabin. He opened the left window to disperse the smoke. He did not see fire, but smoke continued to accumulate in the cockpit. Shortly thereafter, the engine lost power and the airplane began to shake violently. The pilot decided to return to the airport and made a mayday call to inform the tower of the engine failure. En route to the airport, he attempted to restart the engine without success. Realizing he did not have sufficient altitude to reach the runway, he initiated a forced landing to a nearby field. The airplane landed short of the airport perimeter fence.
Post-Accident Examination
Due to the accident location, representatives from the National Transportation Safety Board and Federal Aviation Administration were not available for post-accident oversight. A local mechanic and an employee from Sky Guam Aviation, Inc. conducted the examination. They found evidence of oil around the No. 4 engine cylinder and observed that the intake pipes were wet and shiny. The oil dipstick/filler cap was not screwed into the filler neck, and the oil quantity indicated zero. The pilot stated that he had checked the oil level before the first flight of the day and had flown the airplane ten more times that day without checking the oil level again.
Required Procedures
The Pilot's Operating Handbook (POH) required the pilot to check the engine oil quantity and confirm that the oil dipstick/filler cap is secured before each flight.