Summary
On July 18, 2015, a Ercoupe 415 (CFGGS) was involved in an incident near Saint Martin Island, MI. All 1 person aboard were uninjured. The aircraft sustained substantial damage.
The National Transportation Safety Board determined the probable cause of this incident to be: The failure of a connecting rod bearing, which resulted in a loss of engine power.
On July 18, 2015, about 1910 eastern daylight time, an Ercoupe 415 airplane, Canadian registration C-FGGS, lost engine power during cruise flight near Saint Martin Island, Michigan. The airline transport 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 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a cross-country flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time. The airplane departed Newberry, Michigan, at 1800, and was destined for Manitowoc, Wisconsin.
According to the pilot, while in cruise flight, the engine lost oil pressure. Shortly after losing oil pressure, the engine lost power and seized.
This incident is documented in NTSB report CEN15LA346. AviatorDB cross-references NTSB investigation data with FAA registry records to provide comprehensive safety information for aircraft CFGGS.
Accident Details
Probable Cause and Findings
The failure of a connecting rod bearing, which resulted in a loss of engine power.
Aircraft Information
Analysis
On July 18, 2015, about 1910 eastern daylight time, an Ercoupe 415 airplane, Canadian registration C-FGGS, lost engine power during cruise flight near Saint Martin Island, Michigan. The airline transport 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 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a cross-country flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time. The airplane departed Newberry, Michigan, at 1800, and was destined for Manitowoc, Wisconsin.
According to the pilot, while in cruise flight, the engine lost oil pressure. Shortly after losing oil pressure, the engine lost power and seized. The pilot then selected a beach for the forced landing. During the landing, the nose gear collapsed, and the left wing and fuselage were substantially damaged.
The wreckage was recovered for further examination. An engine maintenance facility examined the engine and reported that the number one connecting rod bearing had failed and the camshaft was broken. The facility added that the camshaft seizure was consistent with a loss of oil pressure due to the number one connecting rod bearing failure.
Data Source
Data provided by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). For more information on this event, visit the NTSB Records Search website. NTSB# CEN15LA346