Piper PA28 N55633 accident near Conroe, Texas

Probable cause

A partial loss of engine power for reasons that could not be determined based on the available evidence.

NTSB analysis

The pilot reported that he departed with 36 gallons of fuel on board. He completed a 25-minute flight to pick up the passenger before departing on the accident flight. About 1 hour into the flight, as the airplane approached the destination airport, the pilot performed the before landing checklist and the engine lost partial power after the pilot turned on the carburetor heat. He immediately turned the carburetor heat off then back on.

The pilot continued to troubleshoot the partial loss of engine power as he maneuvered the airplane for a forced landing, and the airplane came to rest inverted in a pond. The left wing sustained substantial damage from the water impact. Postaccident photographs showed a visible fuel sheen on the water near the submerged inverted airplane.

Examination revealed that the left wing fuel tank contained no fuel. About 3 gallons of a clear liquid, which contained about 1 pint of fuel, was drained from the right wing fuel tank. The amount of fuel onboard at the time of the accident could not be determined. A postaccident examination of the engine revealed no mechanical failures or malfunctions that would have precluded normal operation.

Atmospheric conditions at the time of the accident were conducive to the accumulation of serous carburetor icing at glide power settings. However, the pilot reported the partial loss of engine power occurred when he activated the carburetor heat. Based on the available evidence, the partial loss of engine power could not be determined.

Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for CEN19LA299 for the full record.