ERA16LA166

The private pilot reported that, while returning from a local flight, the airplane was in cruise flight at 2,800 ft above ground level when the engine started to "sputter" and lost power. He set the mixture to the full rich position and applied the carburetor heat in an attempt to restore power but to no avail. The pilot conducted an emergency landing at an abandoned airfield, during which the left wing impacted the ground and sustained substantial damage. A postaccident examination of the airframe and engine revealed no evidence of preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. While the weather conditions at an airport more than 40 miles away from the accident site were conducive to the formation of serious carburetor ice at cruise power settings, it could not be determined if carburetor icing played a role in the loss of engine power.

On April 19, 2016, at 1430 eastern daylight time, a Champion 7ECA, N5094X, was substantially damaged during a forced landing to an abandoned airport in Tannersville, Pennsylvania. The pilot and passenger were not injured. The airplane was registered to and operated by East Penn Flying Club, in accordance with Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed for the local flight that departed Allentown Queen City Municipal Airport (XLL), Allentown, Pennsylvania, at 1230.According to the pilot, while returning from a local flight, he was at a cruise altitude of 2,800 ft above ground level when the engine began to "sputter and [lose] power." He set the mixture to the full rich position and applied the carburetor heat in an attempt to restore power, but both efforts had no effect. The airplane continued to lose altitude and the pilot made an emergency landing at an abandoned airfield. During the landing roll, the pilot lost control of the airplane and "ground looped." The pilot stated that after he landed he checked the fuel in both tanks and noted an undetermined amount of fuel in both fuel tanks. Examination of the airplane by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed that it came to rest on the left wing. The left wing was buckled, and the left landing gear separated from the fuselage. During an examination of the fuel system, he noted that the airplane was not equipped with a fuel selector. The right tank was not breached but found empty and left tank was about half full. An examination of the engine did not reveal evidence any preimpact anomalies. At 1435, the recorded weather, about 43 miles and 190° from the accident site, at XLL was: Wind 360° at 10 knots; visibility 7 statute miles; sky condition clear; temperature 50° F; dew point; 36° F; altimeter 30.08 inches of mercury. The temperature and dew point spread were plotted on a carburetor icing probability chart. Their intersection was within the serious icing at cruise power and serious icing at glide power setting envelope.