Pilot Debrief

GRUMMAN ACFT ENG COR-SCHWEIZER G-164B near Colfax, WA — 2010-02-18

Final reportWPR10LA139
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Date
2010-02-18
Location
Colfax, WA, USA
Airport
S94
Aircraft
GRUMMAN ACFT ENG COR-SCHWEIZER G-164B
Registration
N6774Q
Category
Airplane
Highest injury
None
Fatalities
0
Phase of flight
Takeoff roll

Probable cause

A partial loss of engine power due to carburetor ice as a result of the pilot's failure to use carburetor heat.

NTSB narrative

The pilot was departing for the first aerial application flight of the day and the airplane was loaded with fertilizer. The pilot did not apply carburetor heat during the ground idle or taxi. He stated that during the takeoff roll, the engine did not produce normal power. He attempted to dump the fertilizer before the airplane collided with terrain in a nearby field. Post accident examination of the airplane and engine did not reveal any mechanical anomalies. Review of the carburetor icing probability chart revealed that the temperature and dew point, 8 and -1 degrees Celsius respectively, were conducive to serious icing conditions at glide power.

Analysis

Primary failure mode
Engine power loss
First missed decision gate
Pilot could have aborted takeoff due to insufficient engine power.

NTSB coding

Evidence available

  • 3 docket documents
View NTSB final reportView NTSB docket

Docket documents3

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