NTSB Factual Report

On June 4, 2013, about 1700 central daylight time, a Stinson 108, N97592, was substantially damaged during a forced landing shortly after takeoff from Standard Field (5KY4), Elkton, Kentucky. The commercial pilot and passenger incurred minor injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed for the flight, which was destined for Russellville-Logan County Airport (4M7), Russellville, Kentucky. The personal flight was conducted under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91.

The pilot stated that the purpose of the flight was to practice takeoffs and landings on the turf runway at 5KY4. Following an uneventful departure from 4M7 and full-stop landing at 5KY4, he taxied back, took off from runway 31, and entered the airport traffic pattern. During the next landing, the airplane touched down about one-third down the runway. Intending to perform a touch-and-go landing, the pilot increased engine power to full and the airplane began to climb back into the air.

During the climb, the pilot reported that the engine sounded normal and smooth, but that the climb rate seemed to be slower than it was previously. With about one-third of the runway remaining, the pilot confirmed the throttle position and the flap setting, and upon reaching the end of the runway, the pilot realized that "something was wrong." The pilot thought that the airplane might be able to climb above a line of trees located about 1,500 feet beyond the departure end of the runway, and he attempted to increase the climb rate by increasing the pitch angle. At an altitude of about 60 to 80 feet, and upon realizing that the airplane would not be able to clear the trees, the pilot turned the airplane left toward a field, and decreased the pitch angle.

The airplane descended and the pilot attempted to land the airplane in the soft ground of a corn field, however during the landing roll, the airplane nosed over, resulting in substantial damage to the airframe. When speculating about the partial loss of power during the climb, the pilot stated that the engine sounded normal throughout the climb, and did not exhibit a loss of rpm. He also stated that during the approach to landing that immediately preceded the accident takeoff, he did not recall utilizing the carburetor heat, and that carburetor icing was one possible explanation for the loss of power.

The weather conditions reported at Outlaw Field (CKV), Clarksville, Tennessee, located about 16 nautical miles southwest of the accident site, at 1653, included calm winds, 10 statute miles visibility, clear skies below 12,000 feet, a temperature of 27 degrees C, a dew point of 13 degrees C, and an altimeter setting of 29.99 inches of mercury. According to a carburetor icing probability chart published by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), the temperature and dew point conditions were conducive to the formation of serious carburetor icing at glide engine power settings.

Standard Field was comprised of a single turf runway that was 2,930 feet long by 75 feet wide at an elevation of 665 feet.

The pilot held a commercial pilot certificate with ratings for airplane single and multi-engine land, and instrument airplane. His most recent FAA third-class medical certificate was issued in April 2011. The pilot reported 1,033 total hours of flight experience, 3 hours of which were in the accident airplane make and model.

An FAA inspector examined the wreckage following the accident. According to the inspector, the engine remained intact with no noted breaches of the engine case. Continuity of the valvetrain was confirmed through limited rotation of the propeller. Four of the spark plugs were examined, and each exhibited normal wear with some residual carbon buildup. The gascolator to carburetor fuel hose contained fuel that was absent of contamination, and the carburetor fuel screen was absent of debris. All of the carburetor controls remained attached and functional. The carburetor heat control was found in the "off" position and functioned normally when actuated. No evidence of any pre-impact mechanical malfunctions or failures of the engine was noted.

The inspector also examined the airframe and noted that the primary and secondary flight controls operated normally, and that both wing fuel tanks contained adequate fuel.

According to the manufacturer's published operating limitations, during landing, the carburetor heat control should be placed fully on if possible icing conditions exist. Given the weather conditions at the time of the accident, the published takeoff distance and climb to an altitude of 50 feet, assuming the airplane was loaded to maximum gross weight, with the wing flaps retracted, and utilizing a hard-surface runway, was about 1,800 feet.

According to the FAA Pilot's Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge, carburetor ice occurs due to the effect of fuel vaporization and the decrease in air pressure in the carburetor's venturi, which can cause a sharp temperature decrease in the carburetor. If water vapor in the air condenses when the carburetor temperature is at or below freezing, ice may form on the internal surfaces of the carburetor, including the throttle valve. This then restricts the flow of the fuel/air mixture and reduces engine power. Generally, the first indication of carburetor icing in an airplane with a fixed-pitch propeller is a decrease in engine rpm, which may be followed by engine roughness. Under certain conditions, carburetor ice can build unnoticed until power is added.

The handbook further described that carburetor heat is an anti-icing system that preheats the air before it reaches the carburetor, and is intended to keep the fuel/air mixture above the freezing temperature to prevent the formation of carburetor ice. Carburetor heat can be used to melt ice that has already formed in the carburetor if the accumulation is not too great, but using carburetor heat as a preventative measure is the better option.

NTSB Probable Cause

The pilot's failure to use carburetor heat during the approach to landing, which resulted in carburetor icing and a partial loss of engine power during a subsequent initial climb.