Pilot Debrief

CESSNA 182 near Watertown, WI — 2015-08-01

Final reportCEN15LA333
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Date
2015-08-01
Location
Watertown, WI, USA
Airport
KRYV
Aircraft
CESSNA 182
Registration
N1685R
Category
Airplane
Highest injury
Serious
Fatalities
0
Phase of flight
Approach

Probable cause

The total loss of engine power due to carburetor icing.

NTSB narrative

The private pilot was planning to conduct some practice takeoffs and landings. The pilot reported that he conducted a normal preflight and that the airplane had about 75 gallons of fuel on board. Shortly after takeoff and while on the base leg to the runway, the engine lost power. The pilot pushed the throttle, mixture, and prop levers full forward and then turned the auxiliary fuel pump on, but the engine did not respond. The airplane subsequently impacted trees near a residence and then came to rest on its right side. On-scene examination revealed that the left wing's fuel bladder tank appeared intact but that it was absent of fuel and that the right wing's bladder tank was torn and contained about 2 gallons of fuel. However, the examination was unable to determine the quantity of fuel that may have leaked out after the fuel system was compromised during the accident. An engine test run was conducted, and the engine started and ran with no abnormalities noted. A review of the carburetor icing probability chart indicated that the airplane was operating in weather conditions associated with a serious risk of carburetor ice accumulation at glide power settings. The pilot was on the base leg of the traffic pattern, and he likely reduced engine power to a glide power setting because he was approaching the runway for landing.

Analysis

Primary failure mode
Engine power loss
First missed decision gate
Pilot could have checked fuel levels before takeoff to ensure adequate supply.

NTSB coding

Evidence available

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

Docket documents5

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