Accident Details
On July 23, 2021, about 1520 central daylight time, an Aeronca 7AC airplane, registration N83365, was substantially damaged in an accident near Harrah, Oklahoma. The pilot and a pilot-rated-passenger sustained minor injuries. The airplane was being operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 instructional flight.
Sequence of Events
During the preflight inspection, the pilot-rated-passenger and the pilot observed that the carburetor heat control was not installed. They conducted a brief ground taxi and engine runup, which revealed no anomalies. Shortly after takeoff, the engine rpm surged and then decreased to the point where the airplane could not maintain altitude. The pilot executed a forced landing to a field, during which the airplane nosed over.
The pilot-rated-passenger reported that he had experienced carburetor ice multiple times previously and believed the loss of engine power resulted from carburetor ice. The pilot, who also owned the airplane, stated that about 150 ft above ground level after takeoff, the airplane felt sluggish and the engine surged between 2,000 and 2,400 rpm, followed by a loss of power. The pilot reported no mechanical malfunctions or anomalies that would have precluded normal operation.
Post-Accident Observations
Atmospheric conditions at the time of the accident were conducive to the formation of serious carburetor icing at glide and cruise power settings. Postaccident photographs of the airplane revealed that the carburetor heat control was missing. The pilot provided photos showing substantial damage to the horizontal stabilizer and rudder.