Accident Air Creation GTE N4668L, Saturday 22 January 2011

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Date:	Saturday 22 January 2011
Time:	12:30 LT
Type:	Air Creation GTE
Owner/operator:	Private
Registration:	N4668L
MSN:	T0231
Total airframe hrs:	437 hours
Engine model:	Rotax 503
Fatalities:	Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 2
Other fatalities:	0
Aircraft damage:	Substantial
Category:	Accident
Location:	Hayfork, California - United States of America
Phase:	En route
Nature:	Private
Departure airport:	Fortuna-Rohnerville Airport, CA (KFOT)
Destination airport:	Hayfork, CA (H47)
Investigating agency:	NTSB
Confidence Rating:	Accident investigation report completed and information captured

Narrative:
According to the pilot, while en route on a cross-country flight, the weight-shift-control airplane's engine exhaust gas temperature and cylinder head temperature began to drop. The pilot believed this was due to carburetor icing. The airplane was not equipped with carburetor heat; therefore, no corrective action could be taken. The engine subsequently lost power, and the pilot performed a forced landing on heavily wooded mountainous terrain. The wing structure was substantially damaged during the forced landing, and both main landing gear separated from the fuselage. A review of a carburetor icing chart indicated that the temperature and dewpoint were conducive to the formation of serious icing at cruise power. The pilot reported no mechanical failures or malfunctions.

Probable Cause: The total loss of engine power during cruise flight, while operating in carburetor icing conditions.

Accident investigation: