What happened
The aircraft crashed into trees while attempting a forced landing. The incident occurred during the takeoff climb phase when the engine experienced a sudden loss of power. This failure happened shortly after the pilot had reduced engine power, likely for climb management or configuration changes.
Faced with the immediate loss of thrust and insufficient altitude to turn back to the airport or find an alternative landing site, the pilot determined that maneuvering was not possible. Consequently, the pilot elected to land straight ahead, resulting in a collision with trees.
The investigation
Post-accident examination focused on the circumstances surrounding the power loss. The pilot reported suspecting carburetor icing as the primary cause of the engine failure. This suspicion was supported by meteorological data recorded at the time of the accident.
The ambient temperature was 76 degrees Fahrenheit, with a dew point of 64 degrees Fahrenheit. These conditions created a high relative humidity environment, which is known to be conducive to carburetor icing even in relatively warm temperatures. The significant spread between the dry-bulb and wet-bulb temperatures indicated sufficient moisture content for ice formation within the carburetor venturi.
Findings
The investigation identified several critical factors contributing to the accident:
- Carburetor icing was the likely mechanical cause of the engine power loss, driven by atmospheric conditions favorable to ice formation.
- The pilot's decision to reduce power during the initial climb phase may have exacerbated the risk if carb heat was not applied or sufficient.
- Insufficient altitude prevented any evasive maneuvers, forcing a straight-ahead landing into obstacles.
The combination of high humidity and specific temperature/dew point spread created a high-risk environment for carburetor icing. The pilot's assessment of the weather conditions aligns with known aviation safety data regarding this type of engine failure.