Pilot Debrief

LOPEZ PHILLIP JABIRU J250 near Middletown, DE — 2010-04-02

Final reportERA10LA203
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Date
2010-04-02
Location
Middletown, DE, USA
Airport
KEVY
Aircraft
LOPEZ PHILLIP JABIRU J250
Registration
N464PP
Category
Airplane
Highest injury
Fatal
Fatalities
1
Phase of flight
Cruise

Probable cause

The pilot's failure to apply carburetor heat, which resulted in the formation of carburetor icing and a total loss of engine power.

NTSB narrative

According to the pilot, during cruise flight the engine reportedly lost power, and his attempts to restore engine power were unsuccessful. The pilot conducted a forced landing, and the airplane collided with trees and power lines before the fuselage came to rest inverted in the wires. A postaccident examination of the airplane’s fuel system did not reveal a reason for the loss of power. The engine was test run after the accident and no evidence of preexisting malfunctions or anomalies were found that would have precluded normal operation. A review of the Federal Aviation Administration carburetor icing probability chart revealed temperature and dew point conditions at the time of the accident were favorable for serious carburetor icing at cruise power settings; however, according to the surviving passenger, the pilot did not discuss the possibility of carburetor ice during the event. A low level of diphenhydramine, an impairing antihistamine, was detected in the pilot’s blood on toxicological evaluation. It is possible that the pilot was somewhat impaired from recent use of the medication, but the role of such potential impairment in his failure to recognize evidence of carburetor icing could not be conclusively determined.

Analysis

Primary failure mode
Engine power loss
First missed decision gate
Pilot did not switch fuel tanks or consider carburetor ice before engine failure.

NTSB coding

Evidence available

  • Photos
  • 19 docket documents
View NTSB final reportView NTSB docket

Docket documents19

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