Pilot Debrief

CESSNA 182 near Fire Island, NY — 2021-10-15

Final reportERA22LA017
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Date
2021-10-15
Location
Fire Island, NY, USA
Aircraft
CESSNA 182
Registration
N759AC
Category
Airplane
Highest injury
Minor
Fatalities
0
Phase of flight
Cruise

Probable cause

A total loss of engine power for undetermined reasons.

NTSB narrative

According to the pilot, he was in cruise flight about 1,200 ft mean sea level when the engine started to lose power. He checked the fuel selector mixture control positions were correct, but the engine experienced a total loss of power. He applied carburetor heat and attempted to restart the engine. When he was unable to restore engine power, he performed a forced landing to a beach. During the landing roll, the airplane contacted a hump in the sand, the nose landing gear collapsed, and the right wing impacted the ground, which resulted in substantial damage to the airframe. Postaccident examination of the engine revealed no evidence of any preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. Based on the temperature and dew point about the time of the accident, the conditions were favorable for serious carburetor icing at a glide power settings. Given that the pilot reported that the airplane was is in cruise flight when the loss of engine power occurred, it is unlikely that the loss of engine power was due to carburetor icing.

Analysis

Primary failure mode
Engine power loss
First missed decision gate
Pilot could have checked carburetor heat before engine power loss.

NTSB coding

Evidence available

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

Docket documents8

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