Cessna 172S N513WF accident near Yelm, Washington

Probable cause

A total loss of engine power for reasons that could not be determined based on the available evidence.

NTSB analysis

While en route about 3,500 ft mean sea level, the airplane’s engine lost power. The pilot attempted to restart the engine unsuccessfully and made a forced landing in a pasture. During the landing, the airplane nosed over, which resulted in substantial damage. The pilot reported that he did not know why the engine lost power. He stated that the fuel selector valve was in the “BOTH” position; the mixture control was set to rich; the throttle lever was in; and there was no adverse weather. He further stated the fuel-injected engine had no issues during the earlier portion of the flight and that the airplane had an adequate supply of fuel.

Postaccident examination of the airframe and engine revealed no evidence of mechanical damage to the engine. The engine was successfully run at various power settings for about 10 minutes. A functional check of the magnetos showed an appropriate decrease of about 50 rpm when operating on either the left or right magneto. When the throttle was advanced to the full forward position, the engine’s rpm was about 2,300. Overall, the examination revealed no evidence of any anomalies that would have precluded normal operation of the airplane. The investigation was unable to determine the reason for the loss of engine power from the available evidence.

Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for WPR21LA303 for the full record.