Pilot Debrief

CESSNA 182 near Boulder, CO — 2013-09-01

Final reportCEN13LA525
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Date
2013-09-01
Location
Boulder, CO, USA
Airport
BDU
Aircraft
CESSNA 182
Registration
N6460A
Category
Airplane
Highest injury
Minor
Fatalities
0
Phase of flight
Approach

Probable cause

The pilot's failure to adequately clear carburetor icing, resulting in a loss of engine power on final approach following a descent at idle power.

NTSB narrative

The pilot reported that he had flown a group of skydivers to altitude for an intentional parachute jump about 3 miles north of the airport and was returning for landing at the time of the accident. The airplane was on final approach when the engine lost power. The pilot's attempts to restore engine power were unsuccessful, and he ditched the airplane into a lake short of the runway. The pilot reported using carburetor heat during the descent; however, the pilot did not periodically apply engine power (clear the engine) during the descent. According to FAA Advisory Circular 20-113, Pilot Precautions and Procedures to be Taken in Preventing Aircraft Reciprocating Engine Induction System and Fuel System Icing Problems, "Heat should be applied for a short time to warm the induction system before beginning a prolonged descent with the engine throttled and left on during the descent. Power lever advancement should be performed periodically during descent to assure that power recovery can be achieved." A postaccident engine examination did not reveal any anomalies consistent with a preimpact failure or malfunction. Local weather conditions were conducive to the formation of carburetor icing.

Analysis

Primary failure mode
Engine power loss
First missed decision gate
Pilot did not periodically apply engine power during descent to prevent icing.

NTSB coding

Evidence available

  • 7 docket documents
View NTSB final reportView NTSB docket

Docket documents7

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