Pilot Debrief

CESSNA 170B near Ingleside, TX — 2016-01-03

Final reportCEN16LA078
Sign in to save
Date
2016-01-03
Location
Ingleside, TX, USA
Aircraft
CESSNA 170B
Registration
N3035A
Category
Airplane
Highest injury
None
Fatalities
0
Phase of flight
Takeoff roll

Probable cause

The loss of engine power during takeoff due to carburetor icing, which resulted in a forced landing.

NTSB narrative

The private pilot reported that the engine cylinders had been replaced before the accident flight and that the purpose of the flight was to continue a cylinder break-in period. The engine run-up and propeller check were completed during the taxi to the runway to keep the ground run-up to a minimum. After engine start, no anomalies were noted. The pilot stated that the break-in procedures called for lower cylinder head temperatures and less than full power at the beginning of takeoff. After the airplane took off and reached about 100 ft above ground level (agl), the pilot slowly reduced rpm and the manifold pressure to about 65 percent power. At 200 ft agl, the engine lost partial power. The engine briefly regained some power, but it then lost power again. The pilot executed a forced landing in mesquite tree-covered terrain. A postaccident examination and functional test of the engine revealed no anomalies that would have precluded normal operation. The pilot stated that he believed the engine lost power due to carburetor ice, and the weather conditions at the time of the accident were conducive to serious carburetor icing at cruise power. It is likely that the engine lost power due to carburetor icing.

Analysis

Primary failure mode
Engine power loss
First missed decision gate
Pilot could have maintained full power during takeoff instead of reducing RPM.

NTSB coding

Evidence available

  • 4 docket documents
View NTSB final reportView NTSB docket

Docket documents4

Related mishaps