ROCKFORD, IL, USA
N152BA
CESSNA 152
THE STUDENT PILOT WAS ON HIS SECOND SOLO CROSS COUNTRY WHEN HE NOTICED A LOSS OF 200-300 ENGINE RPM WHILE CRUISING AT 3,000' MSL. HE SAID HE APPLIED CARBURETOR HEAT, AND THE ENGINE RAN ROUGHER. HE DECIDED TO LAND IN A FIELD WHILE HE STILL HAD SOME POWER AVAILABLE. THE AIRPLANE ENCOUNTERED TWO DITCHES DURING THE LANDING ROLL AND RECEIVED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE. A SUBSEQUENT INSPECTION OF THE ENGINE AND ASSOCIATED SYSTEMS DISCLOSED NO MECHANICAL ANOMALIES. INTERVIEWS WITH THE PILOT REVEALED HE BELIEVES THE POWER LOSS WAS DUE TO CARBURETOR ICING, AND THAT THE SUBSTANTIAL LOSS OF POWER COULD HAVE BEEN PRECLUDED IF HE HAD APPLIED CARBURETOR HEAT EARLIER.
THE PILOT'S DELAYED APPLICATION OF CARBURETOR HEAT.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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