On September 11, 1982, a Beech B23 (registration N7674R) operated by John L. Trotto was involved in an aviation accident near West Yarmouth, MA. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: Failure of the sleet duct between the carburetor and carburetor airbox, which would collapse at engine speeds above 1200 to 1500 RPM, resulting in a loss of engine power. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.
An aircraft experienced engine power loss at about 1000 ft AGL after takeoff due to a worn sleet duct. The pilot made a forced landing along the shoreline, during which the aircraft hit power lines and then stalled while avoiding a house, ending up in a marsh.
Engine Failure
Approximately 30 minutes after takeoff, while adding power to climb at about 1,000 feet above ground level, the engine lost power. The pilot was unable to restart the engine and decided to land along the shoreline.
Forced Landing and Collision
During the approach for the forced landing, the aircraft collided with power lines. Subsequently, the pilot stalled the airplane while maneuvering to avoid a house. The aircraft then dropped into a marsh and slid approximately 100 feet before coming to a stop.
Post-Accident Examination
An operational check of the engine revealed that the sleet duct between the carburetor and the carburetor airbox was worn. The duct would collapse at engine speeds above 1,200 to 1,500 RPM, causing the engine to quit.
Probable cause
Failure of the sleet duct between the carburetor and carburetor airbox, which would collapse at engine speeds above 1200 to 1500 RPM, resulting in a loss of engine power.