N3344YCessna 182E · 1962

On July 22, 2015, about 0800 mountain daylight standard time, a Cessna 182E airplane, N3344Y, lost engine power shortly after departing the Kissack/Reynolds Airport (22WY), Rozet, Wyoming. The private rated pilot was not injured and the airplane was substantially damaged during the forced landing. The airplane was registered to and operated by a private individual under the provisions of the 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time. The flight was originating from 22WY at the time of the accident.

The pilot reported that he did a normal preflight of the airplane, and the airplane had 52 gallons of fuel on board. Shortly after departure and after reaching 1,000 feet above ground level, he started to make a turn. During the turn, the engine lost power, and the pilot established a glide as he continued his turn back to 22WY. About a quarter mile from runway 16 (2,200 feet long by 30 feet wide), he performed a slip to lose altitude. He then lowered full flaps and landed about half way down the runway; however, the landing roll continued past the runway end, and the airplane impacted a drainage ditch.

The airplane was recovered and an engine examination/run conducted by the NTSB. A visual examination of the engine did not reveal any apparent reason for the loss of power. The engine was started and test run for several minutes; however, the propeller, which was damaged in the accident, would not allow a high/full power run. At the low power settings, no abnormalities were noted with the engine during the test run.

The airplane was equipped with a digital engine monitor which was downloaded. A review of the data for the accident flight revealed that the system was powered on, at 0745. The exhaust gas and cylinder head temperatures (EGT/CHT), on all six cylinders, appeared consistent with normal operation. At 0801, the EGT/CHT on all six cylinders, showed a sharp decrease consistent with a loss or a reduction in engine power.

At 0753, the automated weather reported station located about 17 miles west of the accident site, recorded a temperature of 71 degrees F and a dew point of 54 degrees F. A review of the carburetor icing probability chart, indicated that the airplane was operating in an area that was associated with a risk of carburetor ice at glide power setting.