NTSB Factual Report

On December 2, 2017, about 1330 central standard time, a Cessna 172 airplane, N9730F, sustained substantial damage during a forced landing following a total loss of engine power shortly after takeoff from Carroll County Airport (KHZD), Huntingdon, Tennessee. The airplane was registered to a private individual and operated by the pilot as a visual flight rules flight under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 when the accident occurred. The private pilot was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed.

The pilot reported that after completing the preflight inspection and the before takeoff checklist, he departed runway 01 from KHZD. Shortly after takeoff, during the initial climb, about midfield of the departure runway the engine lost all power. Unable to land on the remaining runway, he executed a 90° left turn, and selected a grass field as an off-airport landing site. During the forced landing the nose gear collapsed, and the airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage.

The closest weather reporting facility was Carroll County Airport (KHZD), Huntingdon, Tennessee. At 1335, a METAR from KHZD was reporting, in part: wind calm; visibility, 10 statute miles; clouds and sky condition, clear; temperature, 64 °F; dew point 18° F; altimeter, 30.12 inches of mercury.

The airplane was equipped with a Lycoming IO-360 series engine; a detailed engine examination is pending.