Cessna F172H Skyhawk, G-AWMP, 8 October 2011

Cessna F172H Skyhawk, G-AWMP

Summary:

Shortly after takeoff the engine lost power and the pilot carried out a forced landing in a field during which the aircraft sustained substantial damage. The pilot suffered a minor injury to his face but was able to vacate the aircraft unaided.

The airfield’s surface consisted of long grass which was wet. The weather conditions were reported as: 4,000 m visibility in drizzle, broken cloud at 700 ft and overcast at 800 ft. The pilot candidly commented that he considered carburettor icing to be the most likely cause of the power loss as the conditions during the long taxi to the takeoff point were conducive to its formation. He had conducted a carburettor heat check as part of his pre-takeoff checks by selecting the carburettor heat ON and then OFF again immediately after seeing a normal rpm drop. With hindsight, he acknowledges that a longer application of carburettor heat would have probably identified the presence of induction ice and ensured its removal before flight. CAA Safety Sense Leaflet 14, ‘Piston Engine Icing’, contains useful information and guidance for avoiding induction system icing.

Download report:

Cessna F172H Skyhawk G-AWMP 01-12.pdf (248.10 kb)

Published 10 December 2014