History of the Flight
On 24 November 2018, a Cessna 172S aircraft with registration VT-ABK, owned and operated by Ahmedabad Aviation & Aeronautics Ltd., was involved in an accident at Mehsana Airfield, Gujarat, during a training flight. The aircraft was under the command of a student pilot holding a valid Student Pilot License, who was detailed for solo circuit and landing exercises.
The student pilot reported for flying training in the morning and completed a pre-flight breath analyzer test. The Chief Flying Instructor (CFI) accepted the aircraft after a visual inspection and handed it over to the student pilot. The student pilot then performed a pre-flight inspection and found no abnormalities.
The first circuit and landing exercise on runway 05 was completed uneventfully at approximately 0845 UTC. The student pilot then decided to perform a second circuit and landing. Take-off clearance was given, and the aircraft departed runway 05 at around 0850 UTC.
During the climb at about 800 feet AMSL, while commencing a left turn for the crosswind leg, the student pilot felt a power loss and observed a reduction in RPM from 1900 to 1500. He immediately reported "Power loss" on the radio. The CFI, monitoring from the ground, observed a sudden sink in the aircraft and took over the radio, instructing the student pilot to take a 180-degree left turn and land back on runway 23 with flaps 30 degrees.
The student pilot executed the turn and approached runway 23. The aircraft was high on approach, crossing the threshold at about 400 feet AGL with a higher-than-normal gliding speed. Touchdown occurred late, between runway intersection B and the threshold of runway 05. The landing was hard, causing the aircraft to bounce twice. Despite applying brakes, the aircraft overran the runway 05 end, continued on unpaved terrain for about 134 meters, and came to a halt over an open sewage line near the airport boundary wall.
The student pilot switched off all electricals and the master switch. An emergency siren was activated. The CFI and ground in-charge reached the site in an emergency vehicle and rescued the student pilot, who sustained no injuries. There was no fire.
Damage to Aircraft
The aircraft sustained substantial damage. Notable damage included: one propeller blade bent backwards from 7-8 inches from the root to tip; damaged engine cowling top and bottom; damaged induction air filter; dents on the leading edges of both wings; bent skin at forward fuselage bulkhead above door hinges; dents on fuselage stations; cut mark on the left main wheel tire; dents on left main wheel strut fairing; broken left VHF antenna; broken air intake; broken engine mount at upper right side; broken right steering rod eye end; nose wheel bent backward along with lower firewall; damage to upper firewall; dent on left wing strut near lower fairing. Additionally, a runway 05 end light was broken, and branches of shrubs and bushes on the unpaved surface were cut or broken by the propeller and wings.
Personnel Information
The student pilot was 24 years old, held a Student Pilot License issued on 27 November 2012 and valid until 11 February 2019. His Class II medical examination was dated 12 February 2018, valid until 12 February 2020.