What happened
Following a touch-and-go landing, the Piper aircraft climbed to an altitude of approximately 200 feet when the engine sputtered and lost power. The instructor in command took control of the aircraft from the student pilot and executed a forced landing into a grassy area located near the runway. During the subsequent ground roll, the left main landing gear collided with an unlit metal box, which caused the gear to fold against the fuselage. The aircraft then spun around, resulting in the twisting of the nose gear, before coming to rest just south of the runway and adjacent to a taxiway. There were no injuries reported.
The investigation
Subsequent perfunctory tests were unable to identify a specific cause for the engine power loss. At the time of the accident, the temperature was 14 degrees C (57 degrees F) with a dew point of 12 degrees C (54 degrees F). According to the Carburetor Icing Probability Chart, these environmental conditions were conducive to serious carburetor icing during cruise and glide power settings.
Findings
- The engine failure occurred during the climb phase following a touch-and-go landing.
- Environmental conditions were consistent with the potential for carburetor icing.
- Per manufacturer guidance from Piper Aircraft Corporation and Textron-Lycomng, carburetor heat should be utilized prior to power reduction and throughout the landing process until the landing is assured.