Piper PA-18-150 N278Z

Summary

On 11 February 2010 at about 20:05 local time, a Piper PA-18-150 registered N278Z, operated by U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, was involved in an accident near King Cove, Alaska, United States. 2 people were on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

11 February 2010 at 20:05

Classification

Accident

Location

King Cove, Alaska, United States

Coordinates

55.1167, -162.2667

Aircraft

Piper PA-18-150

Registration

N278Z

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

Operating rule

Public Use

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Cold Bay → Cold Bay

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ANC10TA017

Nobody was injured.

A total loss of engine power due to the pilot's failure to use carburetor heat in conditions conducive to carburetor ice.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot was doing aerial surveillance on a federal public use flight when the accident occurred. The pilot reported that he was flying at a reduced airspeed and engine rpm without using carburetor heat, and that when he further reduced the rpm the engine lost power. He said he immediately added carburetor heat, full throttle, and full rich mixture. He said that some power was restored, but the engine then quit. Unable to restart the engine, he concentrated on landing the airplane on a rough and uneven road. During the landing roll he was unable to maintain directional control and the airplane ran into a ditch where both wings struck the ground. The pilot said that prior to the loss of engine power there were no mechanical problems with the airplane. The airplane sustained substantial damage to both wings and the fuselage. During a subsequent engine run the engine started and ran normally. The carburetor was removed and sent to a maintenance shop where it was determined that the carburetor functioned normally, and all wear was within the serviceable limits. A carburetor icing chart showed that the operating conditions were conducive to serious carburetor icing at any power setting.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.