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April 30, 2020 · Ercoupe 415 C · N2275H

Hallettsville, TX

Overview

Report Status
Final with probable cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
April 30, 2020
Injury Outcomes
No injuries (1 uninjured)
Location
Hallettsville, TX
Aircraft
Ercoupe 415 C (1946)
Tail Number
N2275H
Injuries
None
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
CEN20LA170

The pilot was making a cross-country flight and reported that, about 1 hour into the flight, the engine began to “rattle” and “vibrate.” The engine lost power but remained running with about 1,000 RPMs. The pilot recognized that the airplane could not maintain altitude and executed a forced landing in a field. Upon landing, the airplane nosed over and sustained substantial damage to the forward underside of the fuselage. No mechanical anomalies were found with the engine. The cockpit fuel selector was found in the left fuel tank position. Contaminated fuel was found in the left-wing tank. The source of the fuel contamination could not be determined. The carburetor was heavily soiled. Murky fuel and sediment were present in the gascolator sediment bowl. The airplane was operating in conditions that were conducive to serious carburetor icing at descent power. However, the carburetor heat knob in the cockpit was not engaged. The combination of contaminated fuel and possible carburetor icing likely resulted in the partial loss of engine power.

NTSB Probable Cause

Environmental issues-Conditions/weather/phenomena-Temp/humidity/pressure-Conducive to carburetor icing-Contributed to outcome

Full Narrative

On April 30, 2020, about 1430 central daylight time, an Ercoupe 415-C, N2275H, sustained substantial damage when it was involved in an accident near Hallettsville Airport (34R), Hallettsville, Texas. The pilot was not injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. After refueling, the pilot departed from Garner Field Airport (UVA), Uvalde, Texas, about 1330 with an intended destination of Eagle Lake Airport (ELA), Eagle Lake, Texas. The pilot stated that, about 1 hour into the flight, the engine began to “rattle” and “vibrate.” The engine lost partial power and was running with about 1,000 RPMs. The pilot started to fly toward 34R, which was 7 miles away, but realized that the airplane could not maintain altitude and would not make it to the airport. The pilot maneuvered the airplane for an emergency landing in a field. During the landing, the nose landing gear collapsed, and the airplane nosed over. Postaccident examination of the airplane found buckling was on the forward underside of the fuselage by the engine firewall, nose landing gear mount, and wings. Engine drive continuity was confirmed. Intake/exhaust valve functionality and cylinder compression was confirmed. No mechanical anomalies were found with the engine. The lower Nos. 1 and 4 spark plugs were found fouled and carbon bridged. The right-wing fuel tank was found nearly empty, the header fuel tank was about two-thirds full, and the left-wing fuel tank was almost full. The cockpit fuel selector was found in the left tank position. Unidentified contamination was found in a fuel sample taken from the left-wing fuel tank. A fuel sample taken from the pilot’s last refueling source (UVA) found no contaminants. The carburetor was heavily soiled. The carburetor and gascolator/sediment bowl contained sediment and murky fuel. The carburetor heat knob in the cockpit was found not engaged. According to the carburetor icing probability chart in Federal Aviation Administration Special Information Bulletin CE-09-35, with a temperature of 81°F and a dew point of 27°F, the airplane was operating within the range of serious icing at descent power.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time14:30 CDT
Nearest Airport0nm
Flight Plan FiledNone
Flight Plan ActivatedNo
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftErcoupe 415 C
Tail NumberN2275H
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageSubstantial
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsContinental · C85-12F · Reciprocating · 85
Seats2

People & Injuries

Injury SummaryNo injuries (1 uninjured)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured1
Total1
Crew 1Age 57 · Third Class · None

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
WindCalm
Visibility10 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point48 F
Altimeter30.08 inHg
Observation Time14:35
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data