CESSNA 172

Full Narrative

On October 23, 2021, about 1334 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 172S, N1188L, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Francis S Gabreski Airport (FOK), Westhampton Beach, New York. The private pilot was not injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight.

The pilot, who was conducting a cross-country flight, reported that he heard a “pop” when the airplane was at an altitude of 3,000 ft mean sea level. Afterward, the engine lost all power, but the propeller continued to windmill. The pilot diverted to FOK, which was about 5 miles west of the airplane’s position. He also attempted to restart the engine but was unsuccessful. During the glide to FOK, the airplane impacted trees before reaching runway 24 and came to rest upright against the airport perimeter fence.

Postaccident examination of the wreckage revealed substantial damage to the right wing and fuselage. Examination of the engine found that the top spark plugs, once removed, had electrodes that were intact and light gray in color. When the propeller was rotated by hand, crankshaft, camshaft, and valve train continuity were confirmed to the rear accessory section of the engine. Thumb compression was attained on all cylinders, and borescope examination of each cylinder revealed no anomalies. Both magnetos produced spark at all leads when rotated by hand. Additionally, about 35 gallons of fuel were drained after the accident, and fuel remained throughout the fuel system. The examination revealed no preimpact mechanical malfunctions that would have precluded normal engine operation.