Mechanical & Engine Failure · NTSB DFW08FA131
CESSNA 182 — Black Hawk, CO
| Date | May 8, 2008 |
| Location | Black Hawk, CO |
| Aircraft | CESSNA 182 |
| Purpose of flight | Personal |
| Conditions | Not Reported · Visual Meteorological Cond |
| Phase / occurrence | Enroute-cruise Loss of engine power (partial) |
| Pilot age | 47 |
| Pilot total time | 443 hrs · Building experience |
| Time in type | 278 hrs |
| Fatalities | 1, 1 serious |
Probable cause
The loss of engine power due to induction icing. A contributing factor was the pilot's decision to continue flight in conditions favorable for structural and induction-system icing.
NTSB findings
- Personnel issues-Action/decision-Info processing/decision-Decision making/judgment-Pilot - F
- Environmental issues-Conditions/weather/phenomena-Temp/humidity/pressure-Conducive to structural icing-Effect on equipment - C
What happened
The airplane entered clouds and snow showers while en route on an instrument flight plan. Temperatures compounded with relative humidity, placed the airplane in conditions favorable for structural and induction system icing. During the flight, the engine lost partial power and the pilot could not maintain level flight. During the descent, the engine was observed to lose and regain power. The pilot continued to manuever the airplane until it collided with terrain. An examination of the airframe and engine failed to reveal any anomalies which would have precluded the safe operation of the airframe or production of engine power.