Bice AIR CREATION GTE N4668L

Summary

On 22 January 2011 at about 20:30 local time, a Bice AIR CREATION GTE registered N4668L, operated by Carl Bice, was involved in an accident near Hayfork, California, United States. 2 people were on board and 2 had minor injuries. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

22 January 2011 at 20:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Hayfork, California, United States

Coordinates

40.5567, -123.3703

Aircraft

Bice AIR CREATION GTE

Registration

N4668L

Engines

1

Operator

Carl Bice

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Fortuna → Hayfork

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

WPR11LA104

2 people had minor injuries.

The total loss of engine power during cruise flight, while operating in carburetor icing conditions.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

According to the pilot, while en route on a cross-country flight, the weight-shift-control airplane's engine exhaust gas temperature and cylinder head temperature began to drop. The pilot believed this was due to carburetor icing. The airplane was not equipped with carburetor heat; therefore, no corrective action could be taken. The engine subsequently lost power, and the pilot performed a forced landing on heavily wooded mountainous terrain. The wing structure was substantially damaged during the forced landing, and both main landing gear separated from the fuselage. A review of a carburetor icing chart indicated that the temperature and dewpoint were conducive to the formation of serious icing at cruise power. The pilot reported no mechanical failures or malfunctions.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.