Pilot Debrief

MOONEY M20B near Animas, NM — 2021-03-24

Final reportWPR21LA141
Sign in to save
Date
2021-03-24
Location
Animas, NM, USA
Airport
FST
Aircraft
MOONEY M20B
Registration
N74786
Category
Airplane
Highest injury
Serious
Fatalities
0
Phase of flight
Climb

Probable cause

The pilot’s delayed use in the operation of carburetor heat which resulted in a loss of engine power due to carburetor icing.

NTSB narrative

During a night instrument flight rules cross-country flight, the airplane encountered weather that included clouds and icing conditions. Shortly thereafter, the engine began to run rough and lose power; radar contact was lost, and the airplane was located in mountainous terrain. Postaccident examination of the airframe and engine revealed no mechanical anomalies that would have precluded normal operation. Weather conditions reported at the time of the accident were conducive to the formation of serious carburetor icing at cruise power settings. The pilot reported that, during a climb into clouds, with the carburetor heat off, the engine began to run rough and was losing rpms before he applied carburetor heat. Therefore, it is likely that carburetor ice accumulated during the climb, which resulted in a partial loss of engine power.

Analysis

Primary failure mode
Engine power loss
First missed decision gate
Pilot could have avoided climbing into icing conditions.

NTSB coding

Evidence available

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

Docket documents7

Related mishaps