Airplane Had Recently Undergone Maintenance

Location: Fresno, CA Accident Number: WPR20LA136
Date & Time: 05/02/2020, 0930 PDT Registration: N734NW
Aircraft: Cessna 172 Injuries: 1 Minor
Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General Aviation - Personal

On May 2, 2020, about 0930 Pacific daylight time, a Cessna 172N, N734NW, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Sierra Sky Park Airport (E79), Fresno, California. The pilot sustained minor injuries. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight.

The pilot stated the airplane had recently undergone maintenance and this was to be the third flight after the maintenance, and he planned to stay in the local area. He stated that the wind was about 9 to 10 kts straight down runway 30 (headwind). The takeoff started normally until he reached about 300 to 400 feet above ground level (agl), at which point the engine began to surge. He described the surge as a momentary decrease in engine rpm. He verified that the throttle and mixture controls were fully forward and opted to complete 180° turn and returned to the runway. The pilot stated that the partial loss of power was not sufficient to maintain level altitude. The pilot attempted to land on runway 12, but the landing roll continued off of the runway and the airplane collided with a fence. The airplane then passed over the two westbound lanes of a road and nosed over in the median.

FMI: www.ntsb.gov