Cessna 150 N3795J accident near Fulton, New York

Probable cause

A total loss of engine power due to carburetor icing. Contributing was the pilot’s failure to leave the carburetor heat on fully after his initial application of carburetor heat.

NTSB analysis

After descending with the engine power above 2,000 rpm, the pilot entered the traffic pattern for the destination airport. Just after turning onto the base leg of the pattern, the pilot applied the carburetor heat and the engine “faltered” and lost partial power. The pilot then deactivated the carburetor heat, and the engine regained some power. He reapplied the carburetor heat, and the engine stopped. He attempted to restart the engine but was unsuccessful. While performing a forced landing to a road, the right wing impacted a utility pole and the airplane rolled over and sustained substantial damage to both wings and the fuselage.

The weather conditions at the time of the accident were favorable for carburetor icing at altitude and at the surface. It is likely that carburetor ice developed during the descent; when the pilot applied the carburetor heat while in the traffic pattern, the ice began to melt, which introduced water into the engine intake and resulted in the engine losing partial power. The pilot’s subsequent cycling of the carburetor heat at a relatively low power setting likely resulted in the total loss of engine power.

Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for ERA19LA151 for the full record.