What happened
The aircraft was involved in a forced landing after colliding with a fence and two parked cars while on a personal flight. The pilot reported that following a ground delay of approximately 40 to 50 minutes, he initiated a normal climb to an altitude of 5,000 feet mean sea level (MSL). Upon reaching this altitude, the pilot trimmed the aircraft and leaned the mixture to achieve 75 percent power.
Shortly after leveling off, the engine suddenly lost power and fuel flow ceased. The pilot declared an emergency and requested vectors to the nearest airport. As the aircraft emerged from the overcast at approximately 1,000 feet MSL, the pilot was unable to establish visual contact with the destination airport. Consequently, he elected to land in a nearby parking lot.
The investigation
A physical examination of the engine revealed significant evidence of severe icing. Water was found around the alternate air source door, and the air filter was frozen and clogged with ice. This blockage prevented proper airflow to the engine, leading to the sudden loss of power.
At the time of the accident, a Significant Meteorological Information (SIGMET) was in effect for the region. The SIGMET warned of severe icing in clouds and precipitation extending from the surface up to 12,000 feet MSL, indicating that the pilot was flying through known hazardous weather conditions.
Findings
The primary factor contributing to the accident was the ingestion of ice into the engine air intake system. The presence of a SIGMET for severe icing suggests that the pilot may have been unaware of the intensity of the conditions or encountered them more rapidly than anticipated. The inability to locate the airport visually upon exiting the clouds further complicated the emergency situation, leading to the uncontrolled landing in a parking area.