CEN16LA025

The commercial pilot was taking off for a personal local flight. The pilot reported that, shortly after takeoff and as the airplane reached about 700 ft above ground level, the engine began to gradually lose power. He attempted to return to the departure airport, but the airplane was unable to maintain altitude. He subsequently chose to perform an off-airport landing, during which the airplane struck trees. Postaccident examination of the engine revealed no preimpact anomalies. A subsequent test run was performed, and no operational defects were noted. The weather conditions were conducive for moderate icing at cruise power and serious icing at descent power, and the pilot's description of a gradual and continual loss of engine power is consistent with the effects of carburetor icing. Therefore, it is likely that the engine lost power due to carburetor icing.

On October 30, 2015, about 1715 central daylight time, a Champion 7ECA, N9105L, sustained substantial damage when it struck trees and the ground during a forced landing near Sheridan, Arkansas. The airplane was climbing after takeoff from runway 1 at the Sheridan Municipal Airport (9M8) when the power loss occurred. The pilot and passenger were not injured. The aircraft was registered to and operated by the pilot under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the flight, which was not on a flight plan. The local flight was originating at the time of the accident. The pilot reported that he performed a run-up prior to takeoff and all engine indications were normal. He departed on runway 1 and continued the climb to 700 feet above ground level (agl) when the engine began to lose power. He initiated a 180 degree turn back toward the airport and the engine power continued to deteriorate. The engine power continued to deteriorate and the pilot was not able to maintain level flight and he elected to perform an off- airport landing. The airplane contacted pine trees about 40 feet above the ground during the forced landing. The trees pushed the airplane rearward and the airplane fell to the ground nose first. Postaccident examination revealed no debris or obstruction of the fuel lines or fuel tank vent. Operation of the engine controls was normal. No anomalies could be found with respect to the engine. A test run of the engine was performed with no defects in operation noted. The recorded weather conditions at the Grider Field Airport, Pine Bluff, Kansas, about 22 miles southeast of the accident site included a temperature of 20 degrees Celsius, and a dew point of 11 degrees Celsius. The recorded temperature and dew point were in a range of susceptibility for moderate icing at cruise power and serious icing at descent power.