Accident Details
A commercial pilot was providing airplane rides as part of an air show. During the fourth takeoff, the airplane climbed to approximately 100 feet above the runway when the engine ceased producing power. The pilot adjusted the carburetor heat control and the fuel selector, but the engine did not restart. During the subsequent forced landing, the airplane collided with wires and the terrain, then came to rest in an inverted position.
Post-Accident Examination
Investigators noted a strong odor of fuel and evidence of fuel spillage at the accident scene. Despite these signs, no mechanical anomalies were found during the examination. The right fuel tank was subsequently serviced with fuel, and the engine started immediately, accelerated, and ran continuously without interruption.
Carburetor Icing Considerations
A carburetor icing probability chart indicated that ambient conditions at the time of the accident could have resulted in "serious icing at glide power." The airplane was equipped with a Franklin 6A-4165 series engine. Separately, during the investigation of another Stinson accident under approximately the same ambient conditions and with the same series engine, the mechanic who maintained that airplane stated that the engine was particularly susceptible to carburetor icing on the ground due to the position of the air intake manifold. An engine runup conducted shortly thereafter revealed that, upon shutdown, the carburetor box felt cold to the touch.