Accident Details
On February 2, 2013, at approximately 1350 mountain standard time, a Cessna 175B, registration N8125T, was substantially damaged during a forced landing near Wellsville, Utah. The aircraft was registered to and operated by the pilot under 14 CFR Part 91. The private pilot and four passengers were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed for the local flight, which originated from Logan, Utah, at 1300.
Pilot Report
While climbing through about 8,500 feet mean sea level, the pilot observed a sudden reduction in engine RPM and applied carburetor heat. The engine RPM increased for about 3 seconds before decreasing again. The pilot initiated troubleshooting and performed the emergency landing checklist. When the ignition switch was turned off and back on, the engine backfired once, but RPM remained at 1,000. The pilot executed a forced landing to an open snow-covered field. During the landing roll, the airplane nosed over.
Damage and Examination
An FAA inspector found structural damage to the fuselage, vertical stabilizer, and rudder. The aircraft was recovered for further examination. Both wings remained attached and contained fuel in both tanks. Control continuity was confirmed from carburetor heat, throttle, and mixture controls to their respective linkages.
The Lycoming O-360-A1D engine (serial L-7542-36) remained attached to the fuselage, with the mount structure displaced downward. All accessories were intact. Top spark plugs, carburetor, and propeller were removed, and magneto "P" leads were disconnected. Hand rotation confirmed mechanical continuity throughout the engine and valve train, with thumb compression on all six cylinders. Both magnetos produced blue sparks on all leads.
Carburetor throttle and mixture levers moved freely. The accelerator pump expelled liquid when the throttle was moved. The fuel inlet screen had slight debris but was mostly unobstructed. Internal examination showed intact metal floats and a carburetor float bowl containing liquid consistent with fuel. Testing with water-finding paste yielded positive results.
No evidence of mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation was found.
Weather Conditions
At 1351, weather recorded at Logan-Cache Airport (about 9 miles northeast) included calm wind, visibility 7 statute miles, clear sky, temperature 25°F, dew point 19°F, and altimeter 30.46 inHg. According to an FAA Special Airworthiness Information Bulletin on carburetor icing prevention, these conditions were conducive to icing at glide and cruise power.