Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Private
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 4; Flight Crew Total 310; Flight Crew Type 70
Situational Awareness
Aircraft Equipment Problem Critical; Ground Excursion Runway; Inflight Event / Encounter Fuel Issue
Flight Crew Landed in Emergency Condition
Procedure; Human Factors; Aircraft
Engine quit at approximately 200 AGL on final approach. Hard landing on grass a few feet before threshold of runway. Aircraft rolled onto runway. Speculation that the problem occurred due to right fuel tank being used instead of switching to both tanks prior to entering the traffic pattern. Possible carburetor ice; carburetor heat does not function robustly; on run up; addition of carb heat only drops rpm by 30-40 rpm. Other possibility is that the fuel outlet on the right tank unported and air was drawn into the line.
The reporter indicated that the installed engine is a Lycoming O-320. The cause was not confirmed; however five gallons of fuel was found to be present in the right fuel tank. Also; the tank feeds from the forward and aft sides of the tank. Since the rpm drop is very low during the run-up test of the carb heat; the reporter suspects that carburetor ice may have been present.
The pilot of an amateur built experimental aircraft reported a loss of engine power on final approach that led to landing just short of the runway. Carburetor ice may have existed and the carb heat control may be inadequate.