A C152 IN SLOW FLT AT 500 FT EXPERIENCES A LOSS OF PWR AND MAKES AN OFF ARPT LNDG CAUSED BY CARB ICING.

Date: 2000-05 · Aircraft: Cessna 152 · Phase: cruise

Anomalies: aircraft-equipment-problem-less-severe|deviation-discrepancy-procedural-published-material-policy|deviation-discrepancy-procedural-far|ground-event-encounter-other-unknown

Synopsis

A C152 IN SLOW FLT AT 500 FT EXPERIENCES A LOSS OF PWR AND MAKES AN OFF ARPT LNDG CAUSED BY CARB ICING.

Narrative

EVENTS BEGAN WITH A DSCNT INTO LOW ALT FLT (1000 FT AGL) IN ORDER TO FLY CLOSE TO FAMILY OUTING S OF TOPEKA. THIS WAS AT MY FAMILY'S FARM IN WHICH WAS OUT IN THE COUNTRY AND I DESIRED TO DROP A BAG OF CANDY OUT AS A FUN GESTURE. AFTER 3 PASSES; I PROCEEDED TO TURN FOR A 4TH AND DROPPED TO 500 FT AGL IN ORDER TO MAKE THE DROP. AFTER THE DROP WAS MADE AND ALL WAS CLR; I PROCEEDED TO ADD FULL THROTTLE TO DEPART AND TO LAND AT FORBES FIELD (FOE). THE ADDING OF FULL THROTTLE ONLY PRODUCED A MAX 1800. I PULLED CARB HEAT; APPLIED FULL MIXTURE; FULL THROTTLE; AND CHKED MAGNETO POS. I WAS UNSUCCESSFUL WITH PWR RECOVERY AND WAS THEN DSNDING BELOW 500 FT AGL. PWR LINES AND TREES BECAME A BIG CONCERN. I CLRED PWR LINES EASILY; BUT BRUSHED THE TOP OF THE TREES. AT THIS TIME; I KNEW A FORCED LNDG WAS NEEDED. I PROCEEDED TO LAND IN THE NEAREST PASTURE; MAKING A CLEAN LNDG. ONCE I HAD COMPLETELY STOPPED THE AIRPLANE; I CALLED FORBES ATC TO INFORM THEM OF MY LOCATION AND GOOD CONDITION. AFTER VERIFICATION; I GOT OUT OF THE AIRPLANE AND STARTED A FULL INSPECTION OF THE C152. EVERYTHING CHKED OUT AND HELP HAD ARRIVED AT THIS TIME. THE NEXT MORNING; I HAD A STRIP CUT IN THE PASTURE AND PROCEEDED TO TAKE OFF FROM THE SAME FIELD AND FLEW TO FORBES; LANDED SAFELY; AND HAD A CERTIFIED MECH DO A THOROUGH CHK OF THE ENG AND STRUCTURE. AFTER CLEANING PLUGS AND PULLING SOME GRASS OUT; THE MECH INFORMED ME THAT THE ACFT WAS IN NORMAL CONDITION AND AIRWORTHY. I THEN FLEW THE ACFT FROM FORBES TO SALINA; KS; WITHOUT INCIDENT. I FEEL THAT THE CONDITIONS LEADING UP TO THE FORCED LNDG ARE NOW CLRER. EVEN WITH TEMPS OVER 85 DEGS F; THE HIGH HUMIDITY AND SLOWER FLT LED TO CARB ICING TO OCCUR. APPLICATION OF CARB HEAT OCCURRED ONCE THE ENG FAILURE STARTED TO OCCUR BUT WITHOUT MUCH ALT; THERE WAS NO SUFFICIENT TIME FOR THE ICE TO MELT. OTHER OPTIONS FOR THE INCIDENT ARE POSSIBLE; BUT NO OTHER CAUSES HAVE BEEN FOUND OR REALIZED.

Source: NASA Aviation Safety Reporting System (public domain). Reports are voluntary submissions and are not verified by NASA.