Weatherly 620B N2008S

Summary

On 3 August 2012 at about 14:19 local time, a Weatherly 620B registered N2008S, operated by Farmers Aviation Inc, was involved in an accident near Holcomb, Kansas, United States. One person was on board and one 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

3 August 2012 at 14:19

Classification

Accident

Location

Holcomb, Kansas, United States

Nearest airport

Private airstrip (PVT)

Coordinates

37.9861, -100.9892

Aircraft

Weatherly 620B

Registration

N2008S

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Farmers Aviation Inc

Operating rule

Part 137: Agricultural

Purpose of flight

Aerial Application

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Holcomb → Holcomb

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

CEN12LA514

1 person had minor injuries.

The pilot's failure to use carburetor heat while operating in conditions conducive to carburetor icing, which resulted in a partial loss of engine power shortly after takeoff.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot reported that the airplane's engine lost power after takeoff. He noted that the engine rpm during the takeoff was about 30 rpm lower than he was accustomed to but still within the normal operating range. After gaining about 50 feet of altitude, the airplane lost power and the pilot attempted to drop the chemical load to remain airborne. The airplane impacted an open field about one mile from the airstrip. Subsequent examinations of the airplane engine and systems did not reveal any anomalies that would explain the loss of engine power. The temperature and dew point were within the range of susceptibility for carburetor icing at glide and cruise power, and within the range of susceptibility for serious icing at glide power. The pilot did not mention using carburetor heat during the pre-takeoff run-up or during the power loss event. Based on the available information it is likely that the airplane's engine lost power due to carburetor icing.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.