Incident
On 2 August 2012 at approximately 1416 UTC, a Cessna 172S Skyhawk (registration D-EFUC) experienced a sudden loss of engine power while cruising at about 1,700 ft amsl near Dunsop Bridge, Lancashire. The aircraft was on an aerial work flight, having departed Blackpool Airport about two hours earlier following a successful landing into a grass field for a photography sortie.
Both FADEC warning lights illuminated, and although the propeller continued to turn, only 5% power was indicated on the engine display. The pilot exercised the power lever but there was no response from the engine. Turning on the electric fuel pump had no effect. The pilot selected a field, prepared for a forced landing, and made a MAYDAY call on the Blackpool Radar frequency.
During the ground roll, the wheels dug into the soft ground and the aircraft momentarily pitched over onto its nose before settling upright. The pilot shut down the aircraft, and he and his passenger vacated normally. The damage consisted of a dented right wing leading edge and a damaged propeller.
Aircraft and Pilot Information
The aircraft was a Cessna 172S Skyhawk (serial number 172S8003, year of manufacture 1998) powered by a single Centurion 2.0s (TAE 125-02-114) diesel engine. The pilot, aged 40, held a Commercial Pilot’s Licence and had a total flying experience of 408 hours, of which 80 were on type. His recent flying included 61 hours in the last 90 days and 43 hours in the last 28 days.
Investigation
Following the aircraft’s recovery, a maintenance organisation attempted to download the recorded FADEC data but was unsuccessful. At the time of writing, no further examination of the engine or FADEC had been carried out.