Pilot Debrief

PIPER PA28 near Jacksonville, FL — 2015-02-27

Final reportERA15LA142
Sign in to save
Date
2015-02-27
Location
Jacksonville, FL, USA
Aircraft
PIPER PA28
Registration
N2122K
Category
Airplane
Highest injury
None
Fatalities
0
Phase of flight
Cruise

Probable cause

The total loss of engine power due to carburetor ice.

NTSB narrative

The student pilot was returning from a solo cross-country flight and had just completed a crosscheck of the instruments when the engine started to "sputter" and lose power. Although he began performing the emergency checklist for a loss of engine power, he could not recall if he completed all of the items on the checklist. The student subsequently performed a forced landing to a nearby field, which resulted in substantial damage to the airplane's fuselage and both wings. During the postaccident examination of the airplane, which included a successful engine test run, no anomalies were noted that would have precluded normal operation. Weather conditions at the time of the accident were conducive to serious carburetor icing at cruise power. Since postaccident examination of the engine revealed no anomalies, it is likely that the loss of power was a result of carburetor ice accumulation. Had the student performed all items on the emergency checklist, he may have been able to restore engine power after application of carburetor heat.

Analysis

Primary failure mode
Engine power loss
First missed decision gate
Properly execute emergency checklist to address engine sputtering.

NTSB coding

Evidence available

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

Docket documents8

Related mishaps