Accident Overview
On May 27, 2019, about 1510 eastern daylight time, a Piper PA18-150 airplane, registration N70699, impacted ground objects during a forced landing following an inflight loss of engine power near Palm City, Florida. The private pilot and passenger were uninjured. The airplane sustained substantial wing and fuselage damage during the landing.
Flight History
The airplane was registered to Blazie Marketing Services Inc. and operated by the pilot as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. Day visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and the flight was not operated on a flight plan. The local flight originated from Witham Field Airport (SUA) near Stuart, Florida, about 1425.
According to the pilot, he advised SUA tower that the flight was inbound when the airplane was over Naked Lady Ranch Airport, near Stuart, Florida. He was told to enter a right downwind to runway 12. The pilot started a descent and switched to the right fuel tank. For several minutes all was normal. The tower gave landing clearance when the airplane was west of Interstate 95. The pilot turned the airplane direct to the runway's numbers. About a minute later, the engine started popping like a "bad" magneto drop. The pilot checked the magneto switches and pumped the throttle. He indicated that the engine "reeved slightly" then quit. He assessed the situation, called the tower, and reported an "engine out." The pilot informed the tower that the airplane could not make the airport and that he was going to land in a field. He landed in an area under construction and "ran out of space" before stopping, using a chain link fence to stop the airplane.
Weather Conditions
At 1540, the recorded weather at SUA was: wind 090° at 8 knots; visibility 7 statute miles; sky condition scattered clouds at 2,000 ft; temperature 30° C; dew point 22° C; altimeter 30.03 inches of mercury. The recorded local temperature and dew point spread data near the time of the engine power loss was plotted on a carburetor icing chart. The charted data showed that the weather in the area was conducive to serious carburetor icing at descent power.
Post-Accident Examination
A Federal Aviation Administration inspector examined the accident airplane at the site and took photos. The fuel selector was found in the off position. The left and right wing fuel tanks were drained during recovery. When drained, the right wing tank was full and the left wing tank was empty. The engine's fuel filter bowl was subsequently inspected and found to have no residual fuel. Fuel was run from the right wing fuel line to the engine; fuel flowed through the filter bowl.