NTSB Factual Report

On May 3, 2015, about 1100 Pacific daylight time, a Buhl LA 1, N352Y, collided with trees during a forced landing at Cottage Grove State Airport (61S) Cottage Grove, Oregon. The pilot/owner was operating the airplane under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 91. The commercial pilot sustained minor injuries; the airplane sustained substantial damage to the wings. The local personal flight was in the traffic pattern. Visual meteorological conditions (VMC) prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed.

The pilot stated that he did not intend to fly. He made several low speed taxi tests, and then began a high speed run. It was windy; after encountering a gust, the airplane unexpectedly became airborne. There was not enough room to abort the takeoff, so the pilot decided to fly the traffic pattern, and return to land. On downwind, the engine lost power; he continued straight ahead toward an open area; the right wing impacted a tree during the forced landing.

The pilot reported that the airplane was not equipped with carburetor heat, and suspected that carburetor ice could have caused the loss of power.

A Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector oversaw an examination of the engine. The examination revealed no anomalies that would have precluded normal operation. A complete report is part of the public docket.

The FAA published Special Airworthiness Information Bulletin (SAIB) CE-09-35 on June 30, 2009, regarding carburetor ice prevention. The conditions encountered in this accident (ambient temperature 71 degrees F, dew point 40 degrees F, and 32 percent relative humidity) were in the area of icing at glide and cruise power, and in the area of serious icing at glide power.

NTSB Probable Cause

A loss of engine power on downwind for landing due to carburetor icing, which resulted in a forced landing.