According to the pilot, before departing Ann Arbor Municipal Airport (KARB) in Michigan, the Piper PA-28-181 contained about 34 gallons of fuel.
The pilot planned a short cross-country flight to two different airports with a return to KARB.
Due to concerns with weather conditions in the area, he contacted air traffic control and requested to execute the option at Bishop International Airport (KFNT) in Flint, Michigan, and then return to KARB.
While on a one-mile final approach to KFNT, about 500 feet above ground level, the engine lost total power.
An attempt to restart the engine was unsuccessful.
Unable to make the runway, he executed a forced landing on a railroad track. During the forced landing, the airplane sustained substantial damage to both wings and the engine mount.
The pilot told investigators that he did not use carburetor heat during the approach.
Post-accident examination revealed that both magnetos produced spark on all spark plugs. Thumb compression and suction were noted on all cylinders when the propeller was manually rotated. The carburetor, venturi, and throttle valve were intact, and no anomalies were noted. The oil filter was clear of contaminants.
A review of the local area meteorological data showed that at the time of the accident the airplane was operating in conditions that were conducive to serious icing at any power setting. FAA Special Airworthiness Information Bulletin (CE-09-35) – Carburetor Icing Prevention, stated that: “…pilots should be aware that carburetor icing doesn’t just occur in freezing conditions, it can occur at temperatures well above freezing temperatures when there is visible moisture or high humidity. Icing can occur in the carburetor at temperatures above freezing because vaporization of fuel, combined with the expansion of air as it flows through the carburetor, (Venturi Effect) causes sudden cooling, sometimes by a significant amount within a fraction of a second. Carburetor ice can be detected by a drop in rpm in fixed pitch propeller airplanes and a drop in manifold pressure in constant speed propeller airplanes. In both types, usually there will be a roughness in engine operation.”
Probable Cause: The pilot’s failure to apply carburetor heat during the landing approach, which resulted in a loss of engine power from carburetor ice.
NTSB Identification: 107095
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This April 2023 accident report is provided by the National Transportation Safety Board. Published as an educational tool, it is intended to help pilots learn from the misfortunes of others.
