HESPERIA, CA, USA
N5462K
CESSNA 172P
THE ENGINE SUSTAINED A TOTAL LOSS OF POWER AT CRUISE ALTITUDE. THE PILOT MADE A FORCED LANDING TO AN AIRPORT, BUT OVERSHOT THE RUNWAY. THE ENGINE EXAMINATION DISCLOSED THAT A CONNECTING ROD SEPARATED AND ITS ROD BOLTS WERE MISSING. THE ENGINE HAD ACCRUED 1,759 HOURS SINCE MAJOR OVERHAUL.
On August 16, 1995, at 1440 hours Pacific daylight time, a Cessna 172P, N5462K, exited the departure end of runway 03 at Hesperia Air Lodge, Hesperia, California, while completing an emergency landing. The emergency landing was precipitated by a total loss of engine power. The pilot was conducting a local visual flight rules personal flight. The airplane, operated by Cable Air, Upland, California, sustained substantial damage. The certificated commercial pilot/certified flight instructor, the sole occupant, was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. The flight originated at Cable Airport in Upland at 1200 hours. The pilot said in a telephone interview conducted on August 17, 1995, that he was conducting a local flight. While at a normal cruise altitude at 6,500 feet mean sea level (msl) and about 5 miles south of Hesperia Air Lodge, the engine sustained a total loss of engine power. The pilot turned the airplane toward Hesperia Air Lodge and landed, downwind, on runway 03 at midfield. Runway 03 slopes downward. The pilot realized that the airplane was going to overshoot the runway and he raised the elevators to "fly over the airport boundary fence." The airplane flew over the fence and landed in some chaparral bushes. The disassembly examination of the engine revealed that the connecting rod separated and its respective rod bolts were missing. The engine accrued 1,759 hours since a major overhaul.
The failure of the connecting rod due to the rod bolt backing off, and the pilot's misjudging the distance and altitude.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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