The airplane sustained substantial damage during a forced landing following a loss of engine power on takeoff from a private airstrip at about 1730 local time. The Commercial pilot and passenger were not injured. Visual conditions prevailed. According to the pilot, he made an approach and full stop landing with the carburetor heat on. The pilot then taxied the airplane back to the end of the runway, completed a run up and departed. He noticed the airplane was not climbing normally, and at approximately 300 feet agl, the engine coughed twice and lost power. The pilot executed a forced landing on a school football field. After exiting the airplane, the pilot noticed a small puddle and dripping coming from the engine cowl. The pilot concluded this was probably ice melting out of the carburetor. The following morning, the pilot returned to the scene of the accident and started the engine, which fired right off and ran smoothly.
June 7, 2005, Buckley, Wash. / Cessna 150G
The airplane sustained substantial damage during a forced landing following a loss of engine power on takeoff from a private airstrip at about 1730 local time. The Commercial pilot and passenger were not injured. Visual conditions prevailed. According to the pilot, he made an approach and full stop landing with the carburetor heat on. The pilot then taxied the airplane back to the end of the runway, completed a run up and departed. He noticed the airplane was not climbing normally, and at approximately 300 feet agl, the engine coughed twice and lost power. The pilot executed a forced landing on a school football field. After exiting the airplane, the pilot noticed a small puddle and drippin...
Key Takeaways:
- An airplane sustained substantial damage during a forced landing shortly after takeoff due to a complete loss of engine power; the pilot and passenger were uninjured.
- The engine power loss was likely caused by carburetor icing, as the pilot had previously landed with carburetor heat on, and later observed melting ice from the engine cowl post-accident.
- The engine started and ran smoothly the following morning, further supporting the carburetor icing theory.
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