Accident Overview
On May 9, 2013, about 1510 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 182G, registration N2440R, operated by a private individual, was substantially damaged during a forced landing after a loss of engine power while in cruise flight near Clewiston, Florida. The flight instructor and private pilot were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed for the flight that originated at Palm Beach County Airport (LNA), Lantana, Florida. The personal flight was conducted under 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. The airplane was owned by the private pilot through a limited-liability-company.
Flight Details
According to the flight instructor, the purpose of the flight was for the private pilot to gain additional proficiency and confidence in the airplane. The private pilot and her husband, a certificated airframe and powerplant mechanic, conducted the preflight inspection and informed the flight instructor that there was 34 total gallons of fuel (18 gallons in the right tank, 16 gallons in the left tank). All pretakeoff checks were normal, and the airplane departed LNA without incident. The private pilot practiced takeoffs and landings at LNA, then flew to airports in Belle Glade (X10) and Pahokee (PHK), Florida, for additional practice.
Engine Power Loss and Forced Landing
After departing PHK and climbing to about 2,000 feet mean sea level, the engine began to lose power, and the flight instructor assumed control. He noted the right fuel tank gauge indicated empty and the left gauge indicated 25 percent full. He performed engine-out emergency procedures, including moving the fuel selector from both to the left fuel tank, but the engine continued to lose power. The flight instructor subsequently performed a forced landing to a grass field. During the landing, the airplane encountered a drainage ditch, the nose gear collapsed, and the firewall sustained substantial damage.
Pilot Statements and Examination
In a subsequent conversation, the flight instructor emphasized that the engine continued to operate at low power after touchdown. He believed the loss of engine power was due to carburetor ice. When asked if he utilized carburetor heat, he stated that he followed the emergency procedures checklist, which included applying carburetor heat, but he did not recall the effect on engine performance. He estimated the time from power loss to landing as less than two to three minutes.
Wreckage Examination and Engine Test
Examination by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector and an NTSB investigator revealed no preimpact malfunctions that would have precluded normal operation. Both fuel tanks were intact; the right tank was empty, and the left tank contained about 7 gallons of 100-low-lead aviation gasoline, free of contamination. The engine was started and test run using fuel from the left tank, with no anomalies noted. Examination of the three-bladed propeller showed two blades bent aft and one straight, with no evidence of rotation at ground contact.
Aircraft and Engine Details
The airplane was manufactured in 1964 and equipped with a Continental O-470 series, 230-horsepower engine. According to the pilot operating handbook, total fuel capacity was 65 gallons (32.5 per tank), with usable fuel of 60 gallons in the both position.
Engine Monitor Data
The airplane was equipped with a J.P. Instruments EDM-700 engine monitor, which was successfully downloaded. The accident flight contained about 889 data points over 90 minutes, recording exhaust gas temperature, cylinder head temperature, and oil temperature. The EGTs and CHTs decreased about 2 minutes 30 seconds before the unit powered off.
Weather Conditions
A weather observation about 35 miles north-northeast of the accident site, near the accident time, recorded a temperature of 29°C and a dew point of 10°C. Review of an FAA Carburetor Icing Envelope chart placed these conditions in the area of possible icing at glide and cruise power.
Pilot Experience
The flight instructor reported about 5,300 hours total flight experience, including more than 500 hours in the same make and model. The private pilot reported about 230 hours total, including about 90 hours in the same make and model.