N8552T

On April 27, 1996, at 0920 central daylight time, a Cessna 182C, N8552T, was destroyed upon collision with power lines following a loss of power near Malvern, Arkansas. The airplane, owned and operated by a private owner, was operating under Title 14 CFR Part 91. The private pilot sustained serious injuries, while one passenger sustained minor injuries and the other one was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the personal flight for which a flight plan was not filed. The flight originated from Malvern, Arkansas, approximately 45 minutes prior to the accident.

According to the pilot, the flight returned to the Malvern Airport, following a local flight with two friends. While executing a go-around during his third attempt to land on runway 21, the engine lost power when the throttle was advanced to execute the go-around. The pilot further stated that when the engine decelerated to idle speed, "he closed the throttle and opened it again, and the engine speed started to increase, but instantly dropped back to idle" again.

The pilot added that the power line cable contacted the top of the engine cowling wrapping itself under the left wing. After impact "the airplane rotated slowly 90 degrees to the left, passed under another power line, and dropped at about a 60 degree nose down attitude to the ground, coming to rest on the extended centerline for runway 21.

According to the pilot, carburetor heat was applied as soon as the engine lost power, but was not utilized prior to the loss of power. At the time of the accident, the temperature was 59 degrees, with a dew point of 35 degrees. According to the enclosed icing probability chart, this condition places the carburetor in the area of serious induction icing with glide power.