Pilot Debrief

CESSNA 172D near Palm Beach, FL — 2010-09-18

Final reportERA10LA494
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Date
2010-09-18
Location
Palm Beach, FL, USA
Aircraft
CESSNA 172D
Registration
N2483Y
Category
Airplane
Highest injury
None
Fatalities
0
Phase of flight
Cruise

Probable cause

The pilot's failure to use carburetor heat which led to a loss of engine power due to carburetor icing.

NTSB narrative

While flying at an altitude of 1,200 feet, about 3/4-mile offshore, the pilot reported that the airplane's engine started to "sputter" before losing power. He verified the fuel selector and mixture settings and reported that the engine did not respond to his throttle control inputs. He could not recall if he had applied carburetor heat. He subsequently executed a forced landing to an unpopulated area of the beach, during which the airplane sustained substantial damage. A postaccident test run of the engine revealed no evidence of any mechanical anomalies. According to the Federal Aviation Administration icing probability chart, the airplane was operating in conditions conducive to serious carburetor icing at glide power at the time of the accident. Without carburetor heat carburetor ice can form resulting in loss of power and possible engine roughness.

Analysis

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

NTSB coding

Evidence available

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

Docket documents4

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