What happened
While cruising at an altitude of approximately 700 feet AGL, the airplane's engine began to sputter and lose power. The pilot attempted to address the issue by switching fuel from the left tank to the right tank. Approximately 15 minutes later, the engine continued to lose power. The pilot made a second attempt to switch fuel tanks, but the engine failed to respond. Unable to maintain altitude, the pilot was forced to ditch the aircraft. Although power was lost, the pilot noted that the engine never experienced total power loss.
At the time of the accident, weather conditions included light snow, an outside air temperature of 32 degrees F, and a dew point of 29 degrees F.
The investigation
An examination of the aircraft revealed no mechanical malfunctions. However, investigators found that the fuel tank selector was set to the left fuel tank. The left fuel tank was empty, while the right fuel tank contained an undetermined amount of fuel. Additionally, the carburetor heat control was found in the 'cold' position. Analysis indicated that atmospheric conditions were favorable for the formation of induction system icing.
Safety message
In the pilot report, it was recommended that more emphasis be placed on training regarding the use of carburetor heat.