What happened
On January 9, 2010, at 12:55 EST, a Stinson 108, registration N97223, experienced a total loss of engine power while cruising at approximately 600 feet near Bayport, New York. The flight originated from Bayport Aerodrome (23N) at 12:40 under visual meteorological conditions. During the cruise phase, the pilot reported the engine began running rough. After applying carburetor heat, the engine briefly cleared up, but upon disengaging the heat, the engine again ran rough and lost power. Despite re-engaging the carburetor heat, the engine failed to regain full power. The pilot performed a forced landing on a shoreline, which resulted in the aircraft nosed over and inverted into three feet of salt water. The pilot and passenger were not injured, though the airplane sustained substantial damage.
The investigation
An FAA inspector examined the aircraft and found the airframe was buckled following the landing. No evidence of preimpact mechanical malfunction was found in the airframe or flight control systems. An examination of the engine also revealed no mechanical malfunctions. During the inspection, 20 gallons of fuel were defueled from the tanks, which consisted of a mixture of aviation and automotive gasoline. Upon removal of the main fuel gascolator, debris was discovered in the bottom of the bowl. Additionally, debris was found within the carburetor inlet filter. Environmental conditions at the time of the accident included an ambient temperature of 28 degrees Fahrenheit and a dew point of 9 degrees Fahrenheit; an analysis of the icing probability chart indicated conditions were not conducive to carburetor icing.