Amateur-built IV-P N725HP accident near Hamilton, Texas

Probable cause

The pilot’s decision to continue flight into known severe thunderstorm conditions, which resulted in the loss of engine power during the descent due to the engine’s ingestion of water and ice and a subsequent forced landing.

NTSB analysis

The pilot reported that, while flying the airplane at flight level 200 in instrument meteorological conditions, including rain showers, he heard a "loud bang," which he believed was due to an engine compressor stall. About 1 minute later, the pilot heard another "loud bang," and the airplane encountered heavier rain and moderate turbulence. The pilot subsequently asked an air traffic controller to clear the flight to descend to 13,000 ft mean sea level (msl) due to approaching severe weather and the controller cleared the descent. When the airplane approached 13,000 ft msl, the pilot applied engine power to arrest the descent. During the power application, the pilot realized that the engine had lost power. The pilot declared an emergency and subsequently executed a forced landing to a field.

Postaccident examination and functional testing of the engine did not reveal any anomalies that would have caused the engine power loss. A review of weather information showed that the airplane encountered severe thunderstorm activity and icing conditions along the route of flight and that severe weather warnings were issued within the hour before the flight. The pilot reported that, before the flight, he obtained a weather briefing through an online weather service and that, during the flight, he was using onboard weather equipment. Therefore, he should have been aware of the severe weather conditions along the flight route. The loss of engine power was consistent with the engine ingesting water and ice during the descent, which resulted in an engine flameout.

Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for CEN15LA241 for the full record.