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An small aircraft pilot admits that he had carburetor ice and was forced to land in water. Error admitted, but there may have been an aircraft equipment problem faulty carburetor heat. Low temperature and high humidity, ideal for the formation of carburetor ice.
| Attributes | |
| ACN | 360361 |
| Time | |
| Date | 199701 |
| Day | Fri |
| Local Time Of Day | 1201 To 1800 |
| Place | |
| Locale Reference | airport : lfi |
| State Reference | VA |
| Altitude | msl bound lower : 0 msl bound upper : 1000 |
| Environment | |
| Flight Conditions | VMC |
| Light | Dusk |
| Aircraft 1 | |
| Controlling Facilities | tower : lfi |
| Operator | general aviation : personal |
| Make Model Name | Any Unknown or Unlisted Aircraft Manufacturer |
| Operating Under FAR Part | Part 91 |
| Flight Phase | descent : approach landing other other |
| Flight Plan | VFR |
| Person 1 | |
| Affiliation | Other |
| Function | flight crew : single pilot |
| Qualification | pilot : private |
| Experience | flight time last 90 days : 20 flight time total : 300 flight time type : 50 |
| ASRS Report | 360361 |
| Events | |
| Anomaly | aircraft equipment problem : critical inflight encounter : weather non adherence : published procedure |
| Independent Detector | other flight crewa |
| Resolutory Action | flight crew : declared emergency none taken : unable |
| Consequence | faa : investigated other |
| Supplementary | |
| Primary Problem | Flight Crew Human Performance |
| Air Traffic Incident | Pilot Deviation |
Narrative:
After a short flight at low speed in high humidity at 40 degrees F, I throttled back as part of my landing procedure. When I attempted to add power, the engine would not respond, and I was forced to land in 34 degree F water approximately 1/4 mi short of the runway. The cause of the engine failure was determined to be carburetor icing. I had no warning signs until I attempted to use power on base leg. I had applied carburetor heat, but it had not prevented the failure. This was declared an incident and has been reported to the NTSB. I am also reporting this to you also because I believe I have an idea which could have prevented. If my aircraft had been equipped with a device to determine carburetor temperature and automatically apply carburetor heat, I would not have had engine failure and risked death in 34 degree F water from hypothermia. Such a device could and should be developed -- it would absolutely save lives.
Original NASA ASRS Text
Title: AN SMA PLT ADMITS THAT HE HAD CARB ICE AND WAS FORCED TO LAND IN WATER. ERROR ADMITTED, BUT THERE MAY HAVE BEEN AN ACFT EQUIP PROB FAULTY CARB HEAT. LOW TEMP AND HIGH HUMIDITY, IDEAL FOR THE FORMATION OF CARB ICE.
Narrative: AFTER A SHORT FLT AT LOW SPD IN HIGH HUMIDITY AT 40 DEGS F, I THROTTLED BACK AS PART OF MY LNDG PROC. WHEN I ATTEMPTED TO ADD PWR, THE ENG WOULD NOT RESPOND, AND I WAS FORCED TO LAND IN 34 DEG F WATER APPROX 1/4 MI SHORT OF THE RWY. THE CAUSE OF THE ENG FAILURE WAS DETERMINED TO BE CARB ICING. I HAD NO WARNING SIGNS UNTIL I ATTEMPTED TO USE PWR ON BASE LEG. I HAD APPLIED CARB HEAT, BUT IT HAD NOT PREVENTED THE FAILURE. THIS WAS DECLARED AN INCIDENT AND HAS BEEN RPTED TO THE NTSB. I AM ALSO RPTING THIS TO YOU ALSO BECAUSE I BELIEVE I HAVE AN IDEA WHICH COULD HAVE PREVENTED. IF MY ACFT HAD BEEN EQUIPPED WITH A DEVICE TO DETERMINE CARB TEMP AND AUTOMATICALLY APPLY CARB HEAT, I WOULD NOT HAVE HAD ENG FAILURE AND RISKED DEATH IN 34 DEG F WATER FROM HYPOTHERMIA. SUCH A DEVICE COULD AND SHOULD BE DEVELOPED -- IT WOULD ABSOLUTELY SAVE LIVES.
Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 2007 and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.