Forced/precautionary landing involving a Piper PA-38-112, VH-KTR, 8 km south-west of Toowoomba (ALA), Queensland, on 15 September 1996

He initiated a practice forced landing and conducted the required checks. At about 2,800 ft he attempted to warm the engine but obtained no response. The throttle was retried, still without response. The emergency checks were carried out again and a Mayday call was transmitted. The pilot attempted to restart the engine using the starter.

With no engine response, the pilot continued with the forced landing. Two fields were selected, with the secondary field being beyond an earth bank at the far end of the desired field, as the pilot had been experiencing a tendency to overshoot during the earlier flights. Since no response was obtained from the engine, the engine shut down checks were completed prior to landing.

Witnesses reported that the engine note had not varied during the approach to land. There was no surging or back firing. The aircraft touched down at the end of the primary paddock and rolled some 18 m before colliding with the earth bank which was about 1.8 m high. The fire wall and rudder pedal areas were distorted by the impact.

Subsequent investigation involved analysis of a fuel sample from the aircraft and examination of a section of exhaust pipe from the engine. The fuel was within specifications, and the exhaust pipe temperature was below the detectable limit. Since an idling engine could also have exhibited temperatures below that limit, no conclusion concerning engine operation could be reached. An examination of the engine and its systems did not find any abnormalities which could have caused the problem. The Bureau of Meteorology reported that the air was very dry and there was no possibility of carburettor icing. No reason for the engine's failure to respond has been established.

The aircraft was not equipped with an emergency locator transmitter.

SIGNIFICANT FACTORS

1. The engine failed for reasons not determined.
2. The pilot had low total flying experience.
3. The pilot misjudged the approach to land.