Accident to the Cessna 172 - S registered F-HFBR on 17/03/2021 at Pessac (Gironde)

Cat. 2 investigation report: simplified-format report, adapted to the circumstances of the occurrence and the investigation stakes.

The pilot undertook a standardisation instruction flight bound for Mimizan aerodrome, accompanied by an instructor. During the return flight, after just over one hour of flight, the pilot and instructor felt a reduction in engine power then observed that the engine had shut down. The forced landing in a field was the only alternative for the instructor, who had taken back the controls. The type of soil during the landing led to the front landing gear driving into the ground then breaking, causing the aeroplane to tip on to its nose and then to overturn.
The extension of the engine TBO hours could not be granted owing to the limitation related to the remaining calendar time of 12 years, which cannot be extended. After this TBO extension had been granted, the workshops responsible for the maintenance work did not seem to have paid particular attention to the oil filter when it was replaced, then during the subsequent 50-hour inspections, which could have detected the deterioration by corrosion of the internal components of the engine.