Aviation Accident Summaries

Aviation Accident Summary DEN90LA031

COLORADO SPGS, CO, USA

Aircraft #1

N6251E

CESSNA 172

Analysis

THE PRIVATE PLT SAID THAT DURING INITIAL CLIMB, THE ENGINE SEEMED TO LOSE POWER. HE ELECTED TO MAKE AN EMERENCY LANDING IN A FIELD. HE SAID THAT DURING LANDING ROLL, THE PLANE TIPPED TO THE LEFT AND THE LEFT WING, LANDING GEAR, AND PROPELLER WERE DAMAGED. THE PLT REPORTED THAT HE HAD NOT LEANED THE MIXTURE FOR THIS FLIGHT. THE DENSITY ALTITUDE WAS COMPUTED TO BE 8,000 FEET. THE PLT INDICATED THAT THE PLANE WAS LOADED TO NEAR MAXIMUM GROSS WEIGHT. A POST-ACCIDENT INSPECTION SHOWED LOW COMPRESSION ON ONE CYLINDER; 1 MAGNETO WAS REMOVED, BENCH TESTED AND SHOWN TO BE OPERATIONAL. NO MECHANICAL EVIDENCE WAS FOUND TO EXPLAIN THE REPORTED LOSS OF ENGINE POWER.

Probable Cause and Findings

THE PILOT IN COMMAND ATTEMPTED A TAKEOFF WITH THE FUEL MIXTURE FULL RICH, WITH A HIGH DENSITY ALTITUDE, RESULTING IN A PARTIAL LOSS OF ENGINE POWER DURING INITIAL CLIMB.

 

Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database

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