Piper PA-28-151 N41370 accident near Newnan, Georgia

Probable cause

The pilot’s inadequate use of carburetor heat during the engine run-up, which resulted in a partial loss of power due to carburetor icing during takeoff.

NTSB analysis

The pilot was conducting a personal cross-country flight. The preflight inspection, engine runup, and takeoff were all normal; however, during the initial climb, just after flap retraction, there was an engine stutter and power reduction followed by “sputtering.” The pilot struggled to climb and achieved a maximum altitude of about300 ft above ground level (agl). The pilot performed the engine failure checklist and attempted to troubleshoot but was unsuccessful in restoring engine power. As the stall warning horn sounded, he pushed the nose over and attempted a forced landing on a nearby agricultural field. During the landing flare, the airplane’s left wing impacted a hay bale and the airplane veered to the left and rolled down a sloped portion of the field. It then traveled down an embankment, crossed a road, and impacted telephone pole guy wires, separating the left wing before coming to rest.

Postaccident examination revealed no evidence of mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane or engine. A maintenance logbook review did not reveal any repetitive or anomalous activity that would result in a loss of engine power.

Based on the reported weather conditions at the time of the partial power loss, the airplane was operating in conditions conducive to the formation of serious carburetor icing at glide power and on the boundary of icing at glide and cruise power. Based on this information, it is likely that carburetor icing formed during the 8-minute engine start and taxi before takeoff and the carburetor icing check before takeoff was likely insufficient to melt the ice formed within the carburetor. The pilot reported that he applied carburetor heat after the loss of power, but it was likely insufficient to melt the ice during the short flight.

Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for ERA25LA016 for the full record.