Incident Overview
A pilot with 315 hours of flight experience reported that after an uneventful flight, the engine quit while he was performing a straight-in approach to the airport. During the subsequent forced landing, the aircraft impacted trees and came to rest in a nose-low attitude.
Pilot Report and Suspected Cause
The pilot stated that he suspected carburetor ice may have blocked the carburetor, resulting in a loss of engine power. Carburetor icing is a known phenomenon in certain temperature and humidity conditions.
Examination and Engine Test
A post-accident examination of the aircraft and engine revealed no mechanical anomalies. The engine was successfully run for approximately 10 minutes at various power settings without any issues, indicating no pre-existing mechanical failure.
Weather Conditions
Approximately 45 minutes after the accident, the weather observation at the airport reported a temperature of 4 degrees Celsius and a dew point of 1 degree Celsius. According to a Carburetor Icing Probability Chart, these conditions placed the aircraft within the "Moderate Icing – Cruise Power setting or serious icing – glide power" range.
Conclusion
While the pilot attributed the engine failure to carburetor ice, the investigation did not find definitive evidence of mechanical malfunction. The weather conditions were conducive to carburetor icing, but no direct causal link was established.