The pilot reported that the engine lost total power while the Just Aircraft Superstol was in cruise flight at an altitude of about 9,000 feet mean sea level (about 1,500 to 2,000 feet above ground level) over mountainous terrain.
He switched fuel tanks and applied carburetor heat, but was unable to restore engine power.
As a result, he initiated a forced landing to a snow-covered field near Ketchum, Idaho.
During the landing roll, the main landing gear tires settled into the snow and the airplane nosed over.
The pilot’s post-accident examination of the airplane revealed that the vertical stabilizer, rudder, and right-wing lift strut were structurally damaged.
The pilot later reported that he thought the loss of engine power was due to carburetor ice. He added that he examined the engine and observed no pre-impact mechanical failures or malfunctions that would have precluded normal operation.
The pilot told investigators that the airplane had “flown through a layer” that “had the right temperatures that would have quickly developed carburetor ice, which led to the loss of engine power.”
Probable Cause: The total loss of engine power due to carburetor ice.
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This January 2022 accident report is provided by the National Transportation Safety Board. Published as an educational tool, it is intended to help pilots learn from the misfortunes of others.
