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November 8, 2017 · Piper PA 28-180 180 · N10GJ

Carroll, OH

Overview

Report Status
Final with probable cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
November 8, 2017
Injury Outcomes
No injuries (1 uninjured)
Location
Carroll, OH
Aircraft
Piper PA 28-180 180 (1972)
Tail Number
N10GJ
Injuries
None
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
CEN18LA036

The private pilot was conducting a personal flight to practice takeoffs and landings. The pilot stated that the airplane's engine lost total power while he was preparing to land. His attempt to restart the engine was unsuccessful. The airplane did not have sufficient altitude to reach the airport, so the pilot performed a forced landing into a field, resulting in substantial damage to the airplane's left wing. A postaccident examination of the airplane found that it had adequate fuel and that the airplane's electrical and mechanical fuel pumps were capable of delivering fuel. An engine ground run showed that the engine was capable of running. The temperature and dew point at the time of the accident were favorable for serious carburetor icing at any power setting. The pilot stated that, just before the loss of engine power, he applied carburetor heat in preparation for landing. On the basis of the available evidence, it is likely that the engine lost power after developing carburetor ice and that the application of carburetor heat was ineffective and had possibly exacerbated the problem by introducing hot, less dense air, which could further upset the fuel-air ratio. The pilot might have been unaware of the developing carburetor ice because the formation of ice would reduce rpm but might not result in rough engine operation. Thus, the reduction in rpm could have gone unnoticed given the normal engine power setting changes when the airplane was in the traffic pattern.

NTSB Probable Cause

Environmental issues-Conditions/weather/phenomena-Temp/humidity/pressure-Conducive to carburetor icing-Effect on equipment - C

Full Narrative

On November 8, 2017, about 1230 eastern standard time, a Piper PA-28-180 airplane, N10GJ, was damaged during a forced landing following a loss of engine power near Carroll, Ohio. The pilot was not injured. The airplane received substantial damage to its left wing. The airplane was registered to and operated by the pilot under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the flight, which was not on a flight plan. The local flight originated from the Fairfield County Airport(LHQ), Lancaster, Ohio, about 1200. The pilot reported that he was performing takeoff and landing practice and while on the downwind leg of the airport traffic pattern he applied carburetor heat, 10° flaps, turned on the fuel pump, and reduced throttle to 1,500 rpm to set up for the base leg. He stated that the engine suddenly stopped producing power and was unresponsive to throttle input. He attempted to restart the engine without success. He turned the airplane onto a base leg but had insufficient altitude to make it back to the airport and landed in a field. Subsequent examination of the airplane revealed that it had about 36 gallons of fuel remaining. A ground run of the engine was performed and the engine started and was run for several minutes at power setting from 1,500 to 1,700 rpm. Additional testing of the airplane's electric fuel boost pump and engine driven fuel pump revealed that both pumps were capable of pumping fuel. No anomalies were discovered that would explain the loss of engine power. The temperature and dew point recorded at the accident airport about the time of the accident were 9° and 2° Celsius respectively. The recorded temperature and dew point were in the range of susceptibility for serious carburetor icing at any power setting. An article on carburetor icing published by Flight Safety Australia stated that if ice forms in the carburetor of a fixed pitch propeller aircraft, the restriction to the induction airflow will reduce power and force a drop in rpm, which might be accompanied or followed by rough running as the fuel/air mixture ratio is upset. Applying carburetor heat introduces less dense hot air which will cause a further drop in rpm.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time12:30 EST
Nearest AirportFairfield County (0nm W)
Runway10
Runway Length5004 ft
Runway Width75 ft
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftPiper PA 28-180 180
Tail NumberN10GJ
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageSubstantial
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsLycoming · O-360 · Reciprocating · 180
Seats4

People & Injuries

Injury SummaryNo injuries (1 uninjured)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured1
Total1
Crew 1Age 64 · Third Class · None

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind60° @ 8 kt
Visibility10 sm
CeilingBroken clouds 10000 ft
Temperature / Dew Point48 / 36 C
Altimeter30.23 inHg
Observation Time17:53
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data