Accident Cessna 177RG N2550V, Sunday 23 February 1992

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Date:	Sunday 23 February 1992
Time:	14:18 LT
Type:	Cessna 177RG
Owner/operator:	Sheppard Afb Flying Club
Registration:	N2550V
MSN:	177RG0613
Year of manufacture:	1975
Total airframe hrs:	3435 hours
Engine model:	Lycoming IO-360-A1B6D
Fatalities:	Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 4
Other fatalities:	0
Aircraft damage:	Substantial
Category:	Accident
Location:	Durango, CO - United States of America
Phase:	Initial climb
Nature:	Private
Departure airport:
Destination airport:	Amarillo, TX (KAMA)
Investigating agency:	NTSB
Confidence Rating:	Accident investigation report completed and information captured

Narrative:
APPROXIMATELY ONE MILE AFTER TAKEOFF ON A CROSS COUNTRY FLIGHT, AT AN ALTITUDE OF APPROXIMATELY 900 FEET AGL, THE ENGINE FAILED DUE TO A MECHANICAL MALFUNCTION. THE PILOT EXECUTED EMERGENCY PROCEDURES AND CONDUCTED A FORCED LANDING IN A FIELD WHICH WAS ROUGH, UNEVEN, AND COVERED WITH SNOW. THE MECHANICAL MALFUNCTION WAS FAILURE OF THE NUMBER TWO CYLINDER CONNECTING ROD.

Probable Cause: A TOTAL LOSS OF POWER DUE TO A MECHANICAL FAILURE OF THE ENGINE. FACTORS WERE: ROUGH AND UNEVEN SNOW COVERED TERRAIN.

Accident investigation: