Accident Details
During a training flight, the airplane executed a touch-and-go landing. After climbing to approximately 200 feet, the engine "sputtered and quit." The student pilot relinquished control of the airplane to the instructor, who performed a forced landing on a grassy area near the runway.
During the ground roll, the airplane's left main landing gear struck an unlit metal box. The impact caused the landing gear to fold up against the fuselage. The airplane then spun around, twisting the nose gear, and came to rest just south of the runway and next to a taxiway.
Post-Accident Examination
Later perfunctory tests failed to "identify a cause" as to why the engine lost power. At the time of the accident, the temperature was 14 degrees C (57 degrees F) and the dew point was 12 degrees C (54 degrees F). According to the Carburetor Icing Probability Chart, these conditions were conducive to serious carburetor icing conditions at cruise and glide power settings.
Manufacturer Recommendations
According to the Piper Aircraft Corporation and Textron-Lycoming, since 1989 they have required the use of carburetor heat prior to the reduction of power and throughout the landing, or until the landing is assured.