Cardinal 177/177RG
Flight Crew Glider; Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Multiengine
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 50; Flight Crew Total 1250; Flight Crew Type 1
Situational Awareness; Time Pressure
Aircraft Equipment Problem Critical
Flight Crew Took Evasive Action; Flight Crew Inflight Shutdown; Flight Crew Landed in Emergency Condition; General Maintenance Action; General Declared Emergency
Aircraft
Practicing pattern work; on beginning downwind of my last circuit; engine lost power and shut down. Dropped gear; flaps; declared [emergency]; performed a couple of 'S' turns and landed on 02 (180 from 20 from where I departed). I touched down at midfield; and managed to coast to a taxiway and then to a ramp. Later I was informed that the fuel pump had failed.
The reporter stated that he was with the Mechanic when the engine was examined. They found the bolts holding the mechanical fuel pump firmly again the crankcase had come loose. Subsequently; the pump shaft separated from the crankcase and ceased operation which lead to fuel starvation.
The bolts holding a C-172RG mechanical crankcase fuel pump worked loose preventing pump operation and so the engine quit from fuel starvation. The pilot declared an emergency; made a 180 degree turn and landed safely on the runway he had just departed.