Accident Van's RV-6A N654PJ,
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ASN Wikibase Occurrence # 294176
 
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Date:Sunday 16 January 2005
Time:19:45 LT
Type:Silhouette image of generic RV6 model; specific model in this crash may look slightly different    
Van's RV-6A
Owner/operator:Private
Registration: N654PJ
MSN: 60308
Fatalities:Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 2
Aircraft damage: Substantial
Category:Accident
Location:Sanford, Florida -   United States of America
Phase: Unknown
Nature:Private
Departure airport:Lakeland Linder Regional Airport, FL (LAL/KLAL)
Destination airport:Orlando Sanford International Airport, FL (SFB/KSFB)
Investigating agency: NTSB
Confidence Rating: Accident investigation report completed and information captured
Narrative:
The pilot stated that when he was approximately 10 miles out from Sanford he completed the landing checklist but, because of air traffic control (ATC) vectoring and changing of airspeed, he left the carburetor heat cold. At 5 miles out from Sanford he decreased airspeed to 80 miles per hour, lowered the flaps, trimmed the airplane and flew the ILS approach to runway 27R, but does not recall using carburetor heat. He had the runway insight at 1/3 miles and with an altitude of 200 feet, he says the engine sputtered several times and then lost power. He switched to the right fuel tank with no response. He advised ATC that the engine was out and he was going to land short of runway 27R. He continued to control the airplane until the airplane hit a treetop that spun the airplane 180 degrees clockwise. The airplane came to rest on its landing gear between a row of trees. The passenger and himself exited the airplane, and immediately found rescue crews on-scene. An employee from the engine manufacturer of the accident airplane, who assisted the FAA during the postaccident investigation observed the fuel system was compromised, but a residual amount of fuel was found in the fuel supply lines to the engine. The fuel gasolator was checked and found clean. The fuel system lines were disconnected and contained clean blue aviation fuel. The inlet screen to the carburetor was clean. The fuel pump produced fuel flow when the engine was rotated. No stains were observed to indicate leaks from the engine. Further examination of the engine revealed no mechanical anomalies that would have prevented the engine from developing power prior to the accident.
The responding FAA accident inspector stated the airplane incurred substantial damage when it collided with trees when it landed short of runway 27R. The engine inspection conducted by the engine manufacturer revealed no problems to be associated with the engine. A weather report from the National Whether Service Office showed conditions around the Sanford area at the time of the accident to be conducive to carburetor icing. The pilot stated he did not turn on the carburetor heat during the landing approach.

Probable Cause: The pilots failure to use carburetor heat in conditions conducive to carburetor icing which resulted in loss of engine power and collision with trees and ground during the resultant forced landing.

Accident investigation:
cover
  
Investigating agency: NTSB
Report number: 
Status: Investigation completed
Duration: 4 months
Download report: Final report

Sources:

NTSB MIA05LA052

Revision history:

Date/timeContributorUpdates
10-Oct-2022 18:10 ASN Update Bot Added

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