C152 pilot has engine failure during departure and performs an off field landing.

Attributes
ACN	696021
Time
Date	200604
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	navaid : zzz.vor
State Reference	US
Altitude	msl single value : 1400
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : zzz.tracon
Operator	general aviation : instructional
Make Model Name	Cessna 152
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	other
Flight Plan	None
Person 1
Affiliation	other
Function	instruction : trainee
Qualification	pilot : student
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 25 flight time total : 138 flight time type : 34
ASRS Report	696021
Person 2
Affiliation	other
Function	instruction : instructor
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : critical other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa other flight crewb
Resolutory Action	flight crew : landed in emergency condition
Consequence	other other
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Aircraft Flight Crew Human Performance
Primary Problem	Aircraft

Narrative:

While on a dual lesson in a C152; we experienced a complete engine failure resulting in an emergency landing on a closed runway. Prior to the power loss we experienced a 'backfire' during climb out while recovering from a simulated engine out. The vicinity of the aircraft to the closed runway was specifically chosen should an engine failure occur while maneuvering in close proximity to the ground. Ultimately due to the power failure; I determined that the aircraft was still within safe distance from the closed runway while the instructor took over the control of the aircraft. He transmitted a distress call on 121.5 while maneuvering for the return to the airfield. During the approach; I conducted the emergency restart checklist; with no success. Upon failure of the engine restart; I conducted the emergency landing checklist to prepare the aircraft for landing. We landed safely with no injury to person or property and later realized that we accidentally made the distress call on our communication #1 radio; which was known to have intermittent reliability problems. After the fact; during a mechanical inspection from the school's maintenance staff it was brought to my attention that the aircraft had made a previous 'off airport' landing also due to complete power loss. The mechanic stated that 'it sounds like the same problem.'

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: C152 PLT HAS ENG FAILURE DURING DEP AND PERFORMS AN OFF FIELD LNDG.

Narrative: WHILE ON A DUAL LESSON IN A C152; WE EXPERIENCED A COMPLETE ENG FAILURE RESULTING IN AN EMER LNDG ON A CLOSED RWY. PRIOR TO THE PWR LOSS WE EXPERIENCED A 'BACKFIRE' DURING CLBOUT WHILE RECOVERING FROM A SIMULATED ENG OUT. THE VICINITY OF THE ACFT TO THE CLOSED RWY WAS SPECIFICALLY CHOSEN SHOULD AN ENG FAILURE OCCUR WHILE MANEUVERING IN CLOSE PROX TO THE GND. ULTIMATELY DUE TO THE PWR FAILURE; I DETERMINED THAT THE ACFT WAS STILL WITHIN SAFE DISTANCE FROM THE CLOSED RWY WHILE THE INSTRUCTOR TOOK OVER THE CTL OF THE ACFT. HE XMITTED A DISTRESS CALL ON 121.5 WHILE MANEUVERING FOR THE RETURN TO THE AIRFIELD. DURING THE APCH; I CONDUCTED THE EMER RESTART CHKLIST; WITH NO SUCCESS. UPON FAILURE OF THE ENG RESTART; I CONDUCTED THE EMER LNDG CHKLIST TO PREPARE THE ACFT FOR LNDG. WE LANDED SAFELY WITH NO INJURY TO PERSON OR PROPERTY AND LATER REALIZED THAT WE ACCIDENTALLY MADE THE DISTRESS CALL ON OUR COM #1 RADIO; WHICH WAS KNOWN TO HAVE INTERMITTENT RELIABILITY PROBS. AFTER THE FACT; DURING A MECHANICAL INSPECTION FROM THE SCHOOL'S MAINT STAFF IT WAS BROUGHT TO MY ATTN THAT THE ACFT HAD MADE A PREVIOUS 'OFF ARPT' LNDG ALSO DUE TO COMPLETE PWR LOSS. THE MECH STATED THAT 'IT SOUNDS LIKE THE SAME PROB.'

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of January 2009 and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.