Accident Overview
On July 7, 2022, at 1915 central daylight time, a Cessna 172M, N5177H, sustained substantial damage during a forced landing near Friend, Nebraska. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The pilot and a passenger were uninjured.
Pilot Report
According to the pilot, the engine experienced a slight hesitation followed by backfiring and a large drop in engine speed while cruising at 2,000 ft above ground level. The pilot switched fuel tanks, checked carburetor heat, and switched magnetos. By adjusting the throttle, he was able to restore partial power for a few minutes. Subsequently, the engine lost all power again. Attempts to restore power with throttle control movement were unsuccessful. The engine then lost additional power, prompting the pilot to perform a forced landing between two corn fields. During the landing, the airplane’s right wing impacted corn stalks, spinning the airplane around and causing substantial damage to the fuselage.
Postaccident Examination
During a postaccident engine run, the engine missed. An external temperature measurement of the No. 2 cylinder assembly revealed a relatively colder temperature compared to the other cylinder assemblies. The pilot attributed the engine missing and low cylinder assembly temperature to a sticking exhaust valve. No other anomalies were noted with the engine that would have precluded normal operations.