Pilot Debrief

Piper PA28 near Plant City, FL — 2018-10-18

Final reportERA19LA021
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Date
2018-10-18
Location
Plant City, FL, USA
Airport
PCM
Aircraft
Piper PA28
Registration
N3631K
Category
Airplane
Highest injury
Minor
Fatalities
0
Phase of flight
Climb

Probable cause

The pilot’s failure to utilize carburetor heat in conditions conducive to the formation of carburetor icing, which resulted in a total loss of engine power.

NTSB narrative

The pilot reported that he was practicing flight maneuvers before returning to the departure airport. As he approached the airport, he entered on the downwind leg of the traffic pattern for a touch-and-go landing. After the touch-and-go landing, while the airplane was climbing out and accelerating, the engine began to “sputtering” several times and then lost power completely. The pilot performed a forced landing to trees below and the airplane’s wings and fuselage were substantially damaged. Postaccident examination of the engine did not reveal evidence of any mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. Based on the pilot’s description of the fuel onboard at the time he departed, and the duration of the flight, sufficient fuel should have been available when the loss of engine power occurred. The pilot also reported that at the time of the loss of engine power, the carburetor heat was off. He did not report activating it prior to or following the time the engine began losing power. The temperature and dew point at the time of the accident was conducive to the formation of carburetor icing. Given this information, it is likely that the loss of engine power was due to the formation of carburetor ice during the approach to landing and subsequent takeoff.

Analysis

Primary failure mode
Fuel management
First missed decision gate
Pilot did not activate carburetor heat before engine power loss.

NTSB coding

Evidence available

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

Docket documents6

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