Pilot Debrief

PIPER PA 28-180 near Bend, OR — 2014-10-10

Final reportWPR15LA008
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Date
2014-10-10
Location
Bend, OR, USA
Airport
KBDN
Aircraft
PIPER PA 28-180
Registration
N32150
Category
Airplane
Highest injury
Minor
Fatalities
0
Phase of flight
Initial climb

Probable cause

A partial loss of engine power due to carburetor icing, which resulted from the pilot’s failure to apply carburetor heat after takeoff and during the climb.

NTSB narrative

The private pilot reported that, about 4 to 5 minutes after takeoff for the personal flight and while climbing to 6,000 ft mean sea level (msl), the engine started to "shake and roll," and the rpm reduced from about 2,400 to 1,800 rpm. The pilot then reversed course to return to the airport. The pilot turned on the carburetor heat and enriched the fuel mixture, which did not restore full engine power. The rpm then dropped to between about 1,300 and 1,200, which was insufficient to maintain altitude. As the pilot approached the airport, he realized that the airplane was not going to reach the runway, so he executed an off-airport landing, during which the landing gear and the right wing separated from the fuselage. A postaccident examination of the engine and fuel system did not reveal any mechanical anomalies or malfunctions that would have precluded normal operation. Weather conditions from the surface to 10,000 ft msl were conducive to the accumulation of moderate-to-severe carburetor icing. Therefore, it is likely that carburetor ice accumulated during the climb, which resulted in a partial loss of engine power. It is likely that the pilot's delayed use of carburetor heat was insufficient to clear the ice before the return to the airport.

Analysis

Primary failure mode
Engine power loss
First missed decision gate
Pilot could have aborted takeoff upon initial engine issues.

NTSB coding

Evidence available

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

Docket documents7

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