Pilot Debrief

Schweizer Aircraft Corp G164B near Byron, CA — 2010-02-23

Final reportWPR10LA125
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Date
2010-02-23
Location
Byron, CA, USA
Aircraft
Schweizer Aircraft Corp G164B
Registration
N8494K
Category
Airplane
Highest injury
None
Fatalities
0
Phase of flight
Maneuvering

Probable cause

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

NTSB narrative

After an aerial application flight, the pilot initiated a turn back toward the airstrip. The airplane's engine started to run rough and lose power. The pilot turned the airplane into the wind and initiated a forced landing into a deeply furrowed field. As the airplane touched down the landing gear sunk into the soft ground and the airplane nosed over, coming to a rest inverted. Postaccident examination of the airframe and an engine test run revealed no anomalies. The nearest weather reporting station reported a temperature of 9 degrees Celsius (C) and a dew point of 7 degrees C at the time of the accident. Review of the carburetor icing probability chart revealed that this temperature and dew point were conducive to serious icing at cruise power.

Analysis

Primary failure mode
Engine power loss
First missed decision gate
Pilot could have chosen to land at the airstrip instead of turning.

NTSB coding

Evidence available

  • 2 docket documents
View NTSB final reportView NTSB docket

Docket documents2

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