Pilot Debrief

GRAFF WILBUR C BEARHAWK near Woodrow, WV — 2011-10-18

Final reportERA12LA045
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Date
2011-10-18
Location
Woodrow, WV, USA
Aircraft
GRAFF WILBUR C BEARHAWK
Registration
N5456C
Category
Airplane
Highest injury
None
Fatalities
0
Phase of flight
Climb

Probable cause

The pilot’s delayed use of carburetor heat while operating in conditions conducive to carburetor icing.

NTSB narrative

The pilot stated that he was flying in a slow-flight configuration for more than 20 minutes when the engine began to lose power. Although the pilot applied carburetor heat, the engine continued to lose power. The pilot made a forced landing on a highway and collided with a road sign and a ditch. A postaccident engine run was conducted, and no anomalies that would have precluded normal operation were noted. According to the Federal Aviation Administration carburetor icing chart, the weather conditions in the area at the time of the accident were favorable for the accumulation of serious carburetor icing. It is likely that the continued slow flight in those conditions resulted in the loss of engine power due to carburetor icing, and the pilot’s application of carburetor heat was too late.

Analysis

Primary failure mode
Engine power loss
First missed decision gate
Pilot could have avoided flight under conditions favorable for carburetor icing.

NTSB coding

Evidence available

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

Docket documents7

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