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Aviation safety reports, made easier to study

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NTSB Report

October 6, 1995 · Piper PA-28-235 · N8845W

Mulino, OR

Overview

Report Status
Final with probable cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
October 6, 1995
Injury Outcomes
2 injuries (2 serious injuries)
Location
Mulino, OR
Aircraft
Piper PA-28-235
Tail Number
N8845W
Injuries
Serious
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
SEA96LA003

The private pilot/owner was making a reduced power descent in conditions conducive to carburetor icing, but without carburetor heat. After the engine lost power, he applied the carburetor heat and attempted to restart the engine. The pilot was unable to get the engine restarted and a forced landing was made in an open field. The airplane collided with trees at the edge of the field.

NTSB Probable Cause

the failure of the pilots to use carburetor heat during a reduced power descent. A factor was the carburetor icing conditions.

Full Narrative

On October 5, 1995, approximately 1730 Pacific daylight time, a Piper PA-28-235, N8845W, impacted a tree during an attempted forced landing about one-quarter mile south of Mulino Airport, Mulino, Oregon. The certified flight instructor and the private pilot both received serious injuries, and the aircraft sustained substantial damage. The local instructional flight, which had been in the air approximately one hour, was being operated in visual meteorological conditions. No flight plan had been filed, and there was no report of an ELT activation. According to the private pilot, who was the owner of the aircraft, the engine suddenly lost power while he was descending at less than cruise power. The power loss occured about five miles south of Mulino, and both pilots agreed they should try to glide to the airport at Mulino. While gliding toward Mulino, they unsuccessfully attempted to restart the aircraft's engine. As they neared Mulino Airport, they realized they did not have sufficient altitude to reach the airport, and therefore decided to attempt a landing in a field short of the airport. While attempting the emergency landing, the aircraft collided with a tree at the edge of the field. At the time of the accident, the nearest reported temperature and dew-point data was taken at Portland International Airport, about 40 miles north of Mulino. The temperature recorded at that time was 69 degrees fahrenheit, and the dew point was 44 degrees. According to the Carburetor Icing Probability Chart (DOT/FAA/CT- 82/44), the descent was taking place in conditions conducive to carburetor icing at both glide and cruise power (see attached chart). In a post-accident interview, the private pilot/owner said that at the time of the descent, he did not realize the aircraft was in conditions conducive to carburetor icing, and therefore had not applied carburetor heat until after the engine had lost power. Although only residual fuel was found in the tanks at the accident site, the fuel lines had been ruptured by the force of the impact, and the owner produced fuel receipts that showed the aircraft should have had at least an hour of fuel remaining at the time of the accident. After the accident, the engine was subjected to a teardown inspection, and no evidence of anomalies or malfunction was found.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time17:30 PDT
Nearest Airport0nm
Runway0
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftPiper PA-28-235
Tail NumberN8845W
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageSubstantial
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsLycoming · O-540-B2-B5 · Reciprocating · 235
Seats4

People & Injuries

Injury Summary2 injuries (2 serious injuries)
Fatal0
Serious2
Minor0
Uninjured0
Total2
Crew 1Age 42 · Second Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
WindCalm
Visibility50 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point70 F / 45 C
Altimeter0
Weather SourcePILO

Appendix: Source Data