Incident Overview
On November 16, 2018, about 1015 eastern standard time, a Cessna 162, registration N70252, operated by Lanier Flight Center, was substantially damaged during a forced landing to a field near Franklin, North Carolina. The sport pilot, who was the sole occupant, received minor injuries. The personal flight was conducted under Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed.
Flight Details
The flight originated from Lee Gilmore Memorial Airport (GVL) in Gainesville, Georgia, about 0900, with a destination of Macon County Airport (1A5) in Franklin, North Carolina.
Pilot Report
The sport pilot reported that near the destination airport, he reduced engine rpm from 2,350 to 2,200 and began a slow descent from a cruise altitude of 3,500 ft mean sea level (msl) to the traffic pattern altitude of 2,800 ft msl. The carburetor heat was not on at that time. About 2 minutes later, the pilot became aware that the engine had lost all power without any roughness or sputtering. He positioned the carburetor heat to on, mixture to full rich, and confirmed the fuel shut-off valve was not engaged; however, he was unable to restart the engine.
Forced Landing and Post-Accident Inspection
During the forced landing to a field, the right wing struck a fence, and the airplane came to rest inverted. The sport pilot further stated that after the accident, the operator inspected the airplane. Adequate fuel remained onboard and was absent of contamination. No preimpact mechanical malfunctions were identified with the airframe or engine. The operator subsequently attempted a test-run of the engine on the airframe, and the engine started and ran normally. The sport pilot added that he did not have a full understanding of the potentially subtle nature of carburetor ice.
FAA Examination
Examination of the wreckage by a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector revealed damage to the right wing and fuselage. The inspector confirmed that, at his request, the operator completed a successful test-run of the engine on the airframe.
Weather Conditions
The recorded weather at the destination airport at 1020 included a temperature of 5°C and a dewpoint of 0°C. Review of an FAA carburetor icing chart for the given conditions revealed "Serious icing (cruise power)."
Pilot Operating Handbook Guidance
Review of a pilot operating handbook for the make and model airplane revealed the following guidance for descent: "…Descent…5. CARB HEAT Control Know – ON (as required)…."