ASN Wikibase Occurrence # 221656
This information is added by users of ASN. Neither ASN nor the Flight Safety Foundation are responsible for the completeness or correctness of this information.
If you feel this information is incomplete or incorrect, you can submit corrected information.
| Date: | Friday 8 February 2019 |
| Time: | 17:06 |
| Type: |  Piper PA-28-161 Cadet |
| Owner/operator: | FlightSafety International |
| Registration: | N9219J |
| MSN: | 2841028 |
| Year of manufacture: | 1988 |
| Total airframe hrs: | 14682 hours |
| Engine model: | Lycoming O-320-D3G |
| Fatalities: | Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 1 |
| Aircraft damage: | Substantial |
| Category: | Accident |
| Location: | NW of Vero Beach Regional Airport (KVRB), Vero Beach, FL -
 United States of America
|
| Phase: | Approach |
| Nature: | Private |
| Departure airport: | Vero Beach, FL (VRB) |
| Vero Beach, FL (VRB) | |
| Investigating agency: | NTSB |
| Confidence Rating: |  Accident investigation report completed and information captured |
The pilot was flying in the airport traffic pattern practicing touch-and-go landing maneuvers. On his third approach, the air traffic controller directed him to extend the downwind leg of the traffic pattern. On final approach, the engine rpm dropped, and the pilot felt the airplane "sinking." The pilot did not perform any checklists but advised air traffic control that he would be making an emergency landing and advanced the throttle lever. The engine momentarily produced more power but then lost total power when the airplane was about 500-600 ft above ground level; the propeller windmilled. The pilot did not attempt to perform any other remedial actions, such as applying carburetor heat, to restore power and executed a forced landing on a nearby gravel road. During the landing, the airplane impacted a utility pole and trees and sustained substantial damage to the wings and stabilator.
Postaccident examination of the engine, which included a successful engine test run, revealed no evidence of any preimpact malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. The weather conditions at the time of the accident were conducive to serious carburetor icing at descent engine power settings. Because postaccident examination of the engine revealed no anomalies, it is likely that the loss of engine power was a result of carburetor ice accumulation. When asked, the pilot stated that carburetor heat was only appropriate for simulated engine-out procedures. However, according to the pilot's operating handbook for the airplane make/model, carburetor heat should be used, if required, during a normal descent. The pilot failed to properly assess that conditions were conducive to carburetor icing and apply carburetor heat before the reduction in engine power.
Probable Cause: The pilot's failure to use carburetor heat while operating the airplane in weather conditions and at engine power settings conducive to the formation of carburetor ice, which resulted in a loss of engine power due to carburetor icing and the subsequent forced landing.
Accident investigation:
 |
|
Sources:
NTSB
FAA register: https://registry.faa.gov/aircraftinquiry/NNum_Results.aspx?NNumbertxt=N9219J%20
Location
Media:
Small plane crashes in Indian River County https://t.co/QKeNTn7h6Y pic.twitter.com/XMxZkz473O
— WPBF 25 News (@WPBF25News) 9 février 2019
Revision history:
| Date/time | Contributor | Updates |
|---|---|---|
| 09-Feb-2019 00:51 | Geno | Added |
| 09-Feb-2019 00:56 | Geno | Updated [Source] |
| 09-Feb-2019 03:39 | RobertMB | Updated [Aircraft type] |
| 09-Feb-2019 14:51 | Iceman 29 | Updated [Embed code] |
| 15-Aug-2020 16:01 | ASN Update Bot | Updated [Time, Operator, Nature, Departure airport, Destination airport, Source, Embed code, Narrative, Accident report, ] |
Corrections or additions? ... Edit this accident description
The Aviation Safety Network is an exclusive service provided by:
Quick Links:
| ASN Home | Send Correction / Feedback |
| FSF Home | Disclaimer | Copyright |
| Contact Us | Privacy Policy |
| Press / Media |
CONNECT WITH US:
©2024 Flight Safety Foundation