CEN17LA376

The private pilot reported that, while approaching the destination airport, the engine lost total power. The pilot performed a forced landing, and the airplane impacted a cornfield. A postaccident examination of the wreckage, including the fuel system, revealed no preimpact anomalies that would have precluded normal operation. The engine was started, and it operated normally. Atmospheric conditions at the time of the accident were conducive to the accumulation of moderate icing at cruise power and serious icing at descent power. The total loss of engine power was likely due to an accumulation of carburetor ice while operating at a reduced engine power setting.

On September 27, 2017, about 1130 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 182M airplane, N70634, impacted a corn field and terrain during a forced landing following a loss of engine power near Piqua, Ohio. The private pilot was uninjured. The airplane sustained substantial firewall damage during the impact. The airplane was registered to and operated by the pilot as a 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. Day visual meteorological conditions prevailed in the area about the time of the accident, and the flight was not operated on a flight plan. The flight originated from the Phillipsburg Airport, near Phillipsburg, Ohio, about 1100, and was destined for the Piqua Airport - Hartzell Field (I17), near Piqua, Ohio.According to the pilot's report, the airplane was approaching I17 when the airplane had a total loss of engine power. The pilot performed a forced landing and the airplane impacted a "standing" cornfield where the substantial damage occurred. A Federal Aviation Administration inspector, assisted by a mechanic, examined the entire fuel system to include the vents and sumps and found no anomalies. The engine was started and it was operational. The inspector confirmed that the skin panel directly behind the firewall was bent and stringers were bent. In addition, a review of the aircraft records indicated the airplane's last annual inspection was completed about 2 years prior to the accident. At 1135, the recorded weather, about 11 miles and 283° from the accident site, at the Darke County Airport, near Versailles, Ohio, was: Wind 360° at 10 kts; visibility 7 statute miles; sky condition clear; temperature 26° C; dew point; 18° C; altimeter 30.01 inches of mercury. The temperature and dew point spread were plotted on a carburetor icing probability chart. Their intersection was within the moderate icing at cruise power and serious icing at descent power setting envelope.