Pilot Debrief

MAHON PAUL D CAPELLA XS near Houston, TX — 2014-02-09

Final reportCEN14LA136
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Date
2014-02-09
Location
Houston, TX, USA
Aircraft
MAHON PAUL D CAPELLA XS
Registration
N239PM
Category
Airplane
Highest injury
Serious
Fatalities
0
Phase of flight
Takeoff roll

Probable cause

The loss of engine power due to carburetor icing.

NTSB narrative

The pilot and passenger reported that the engine lost power shortly after takeoff. During the forced landing to a field, the landing gear hit a berm, and the airplane nosed over, which resulted in substantial damage to the right wing, fuselage, and empennage. An examination of the airframe, engine, and related systems revealed no anomalies that would have precluded normal operation. The atmospheric conditions at the time of the accident were favorable for the formation of serious carburetor icing at cruise power. It is likely that carburetor ice accumulated during the taxi, which resulted in the loss of engine power.

Analysis

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

NTSB coding

Evidence available

  • 4 docket documents
View NTSB final reportView NTSB docket

Docket documents4

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