Krum, TX, USA
N35645
PIPER J3C-65
The pilot was practicing flight maneuvers near his home field over and around a lake. He reduced the engine's power to idle while performing a descending turn and then attempted to add power to bring the airplane to a level attitude. The engine experienced a total loss of power and the airplane's altitude was too low for the pilot to reach the shoreline. The pilot performed a forced landing into the lake, resulting in substantial damage to the left wing and aileron. The pilot reported no mechanical malfunctions with the airplane and opined that the loss of engine power was due to carburetor icing. A postaccident examination by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector did not reveal any evidence of a preimpact anomaly. A review of a carburetor icing chart located in Special Airworthiness Information Bulletin CE-09-35 revealed that the airplane was operating in an area that was conducive to serious icing at glide power.
On July 13, 2010, approximately 2030 central daylight time, a Piper J3C-65, N35645, was substantially damaged during a forced landing to a body of water following a loss of engine power near Krum, Texas. The private pilot and airline transport pilot rated passenger on board sustained minor injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed for the Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The local flight departed Bird Dog Airfield (TE58), Krum, Texas, approximately 1930. In an interview with the pilot and from his provided written statement, the pilot said he and his passenger had been practicing flight maneuvers in the local area. Before landing the pilot overflew a small lake. The pilot stated he began a slight descending turn with the power near idle. When he went to add power, the engine did not respond. During the loss of engine power, the pilot reported that the engine did not run rough or make any unusual sounds. The airplane was still over the water and the pilot did not think he could make land, so he performed a forced landing in the lake. The left wing was damaged upon impact with the water. The pilot stated there were no known malfunctions with his airplane and he attributed the loss of engine power to carburetor icing. An on-scene inspection of the airplane's engine ans other systems by a responding Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector did not reveal any pre-impact anomalies. A review of the carburetor icing chart located in the FAA Special Airworthiness Information Bulletin CE-09-35, dated June 30, 2009, revealed that the airplane was operating in an area that was conducive for the production of serious icing at glide power.
A total loss of engine power in flight due to carburetor icing.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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