Bellanca 7ECA N31281

Summary

On 4 November 2012 at about 16:30 local time, a Bellanca 7ECA registered N31281, operated by Langvardt Brad L, was involved in an accident near Kenai, Alaska, United States. One person was 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

4 November 2012 at 16:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Kenai, Alaska, United States

Coordinates

60.5733, -151.2447

Aircraft

Bellanca 7ECA

Registration

N31281

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Langvardt Brad L

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Kenai → Kenai

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ANC13LA008

Nobody was injured.

The loss of engine power due to carburetor icing and the pilot's failure to apply carburetor heat when he reduced engine power.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot reported that the accident flight was a test flight after a recent annual inspection during which two engine cylinders were replaced. After he completed a preflight inspection, which included preheating the airplane, the pilot started the engine and allowed it to run for 45 minutes on the ground. After the ground run was complete, he inspected the engine for oil leaks before departure, and none were found. After takeoff, the pilot said he climbed the airplane to 900 feet above the ground, and as he leveled off, all engine power was lost. In an attempt to restart the engine, he applied carburetor heat and switched fuel tanks, but he was unable to restore engine power, and he selected an area of rough and uneven terrain as a forced landing site. During touchdown, the airplane sustained substantial damage to the empennage and fuselage. A postaccident examination revealed no evidence of preimpact mechanical anomalies that would have precluded normal operation. During a subsequent engine run, the engine started and ran normally. According to a Federal Aviation Administration carburetor icing chart, given the temperature and dew point at the time of the accident, carburetor ice was likely at glide and cruise power settings. It is likely that, as the pilot leveled off and reduced engine power, carburetor icing formed, causing the engine to lose power.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.