Accident Description
On 4 October 2003, at 1013 hrs UTC, a Cessna 172N Skyhawk, registration G-BUAN, was flying from Lands End to the Scilly Isles at 2,000 feet when the engine stopped without warning. The pilot carried out engine failure drills but was unable to restart the engine. An emergency call was made to St. Marys ATC to advise that the aircraft was ditching. The aircraft touched down on the top of a wave crest while heading into a 12 kt headwind.
Occupant Rescue
The two passengers were able to exit the aircraft rapidly. However, the pilot caught his foot on the cockpit coaming and could only free himself when the aircraft had sunk to approximately 10 feet. A nearby fishing vessel rescued all three occupants, and a search and rescue helicopter airlifted them to hospital. The pilot sustained minor injuries, and one passenger also sustained minor injuries. The aircraft sank and was not recovered.
Investigation
The aircraft was one of seven participating in a Fleet Air Arm Squadron 'fly in' from Kemble to the Scilly Isles. All aircraft had ample fuel for the flight, and none of the other aircraft flying at a similar level reported significant carburettor icing. The accident aircraft's fuel cock had been selected to both tanks. The rapidity of the engine failure led associates of the pilot to speculate that it may have been caused by a double magneto failure due to failure of the single magneto drive. Later variants of this engine incorporate a double drive to the magnetos. However, the possibility that some other unidentified problem caused the engine failure cannot be excluded.