Pilot Debrief

CHRISTIANSEN DON E DO RV-4 near Fort Worth, TX — 2011-07-28

Final reportCEN11LA530
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Date
2011-07-28
Location
Fort Worth, TX, USA
Airport
FWS
Aircraft
CHRISTIANSEN DON E DO RV-4
Registration
N114DC
Category
Airplane
Highest injury
Serious
Fatalities
0
Phase of flight
Descent

Probable cause

A total loss of engine power due to carburetor icing.

NTSB narrative

The pilot said that the engine began to run rough after he leveled off from a descent, and shortly thereafter, it rolled back to idle power. The pilot established a glide to the nearest airport and attempted to troubleshoot the cause of the loss of power, but power was not restored, and he made a forced landing to a cornfield short of the runway. A postaccident examination of the carburetor and a test run of the engine revealed no evidence of pre-mishap mechanical deficiencies. The weather conditions at the time of the power loss were conducive to carburetor icing at glide and cruise power. The airplane was not equipped with carburetor heat.

Analysis

Primary failure mode
Engine power loss
First missed decision gate
Pilot could have used carburetor heat to prevent icing.

NTSB coding

Evidence available

  • 4 docket documents
View NTSB final reportView NTSB docket

Docket documents4

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