Piper PA28 N3031W accident near Melbourne, Florida

Probable cause

A partial loss of engine power due to carburetor icing, and the flight instructor’s failure to effectively use carburetor heat while operating at an idle engine power setting in conditions conducive to carburetor icing.

NTSB analysis

The flight instructor and student pilot were practicing a simulated engine failure. After completing the emergency checklist, the student added engine power to recover from the maneuver about 500 ft above the ground, but the engine did not respond. The flight instructor took control of the airplane, verified the fuel selector position, and landed. The atmospheric conditions at the time of the accident were conducive to the development of carburetor icing at glide (idle) power settings, and the instructor reported that he did not apply carburetor heat during the simulated engine-out or attempted recovery. Based on the available information, it is likely that the loss of engine power was the result of the accumulation of carburetor ice during the idle-power descent and that the use of carburetor heat would likely have prevented the loss of engine power.

Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for ERA19LA162 for the full record.