What happened
On February 5, 2019, a Cessna 172S, registration VT-RDX, was conducting a solo cross-country training flight from Baramati to Akalkot. The flight was under the command of a student pilot. During the return leg toward Baramati, approximately 17 nautical miles from the destination, the engine experienced a sudden drop in performance. The pilot reported a significant decrease in RPM, and despite attempts to increase power by adjusting the throttle, the engine eventually stopped entirely.
As the aircraft lost altitude, the pilot identified an open field for an emergency landing to avoid a nearby road, houses, and ditches. During the descent, the port wing of the aircraft brushed a tree before the plane impacted the ground. The pilot sustained a fractured right arm and various facial and hand abras to abrasions, but no other injuries were reported.
The investigation
The investigation by AAIB India focused on the aircraft's serviceability, flight preparation, and fuel management. Investigators examined the aircraft's technical logs and the pilot's pre-flight procedures. While the aircraft was found to be in an airworthy condition, the investigation scrutinized the accuracy of the fuel quantity reported during pre-flight checks.
Investigators also reviewed the refueling process, noting that fuel uplift records were often signed by the pilot rather than an Aircraft Maintenance Engineer (AME). Furthermore, the investigation looked into the absence of a dipstick from the aircraft following the crash and the lack of a Load and Trim sheet on board, which would have provided critical information regarding the fuel weight and center of gravity.