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Engine fails during first flight after maintenance

By NASA · April 5, 2022 ·

This is an excerpt from a report made to the Aviation Safety Reporting System. The narrative is written by the pilot, rather than FAA or NTSB officials. To maintain anonymity, many details, such as aircraft model or airport, are often scrubbed from the reports.

This was a VFR flight after maintenance. In the post-maintenance preflight, no water or contaminates were seen in fuel samples.

The engine failed after 1.2 hours of operation. Engaged carb heat, engine returned to cruise RPM. Engine failed again, contacted Tower and requested priority handling. Engine failed again and returned to limited power two more times prior to touchdown.

Prepared to make an off-airport landing on a hay field but turned east and landed into the wind and uphill on a grass strip with farm buildings.

Once stopped contact was made with another aircraft on the Tower frequency who relayed that there was no damage or injuries. Tied aircraft down. Aircraft grounded until released by maintenance.

Atmospheric conditions were conducive for carb ice development, however actual cause of failure has not yet been determined.

Primary Problem: Aircraft

ACN: 1854732

About NASA

NASA's Aviation Safety Reporting System (ASRS) captures confidential reports, analyzes the resulting aviation safety data, and disseminates vital information to the aviation community.

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Comments

  1. Jim Macklin ATP/CFII says

    April 6, 2022 at 8:37 am

    Carb ice and stupid pilot tricks.
    Carb heat only works when the engine is running and getting the exhaust manifold hot.
    Unless you have a carb air temp gauge carb heat is either ON or OFF. When condition are really conducive apply full carb heat and leave it on full.
    Seems this pilot probibly was cycling heat not using continuously.

  2. Robert Hartmaier says

    April 6, 2022 at 7:31 am

    “How is this report helpful to pilots or maintainence personnel? Why bother to include it?”

    X2 – This report does not offer any advice on what went wrong and how others can prevent it from happening to them.

    BTW, you spelled “maintenance” wrong, LOL!

  3. Warren Webb Jr says

    April 6, 2022 at 6:47 am

    Coordinate with the tower and stay over the airport.

  4. Ray Lewis says

    April 6, 2022 at 6:06 am

    How is this report helpful to pilots or maintainence personnel? Why bother to include it?

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