N3667H

Substantial
None

Ercoupe 415S/N: 4292

Accident Details

Date
Friday, June 7, 2019
NTSB Number
GAA19CA329
Location
Lafayette, IN
Event ID
20190607X80852
Coordinates
40.412223, -86.936943
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
Highest Injury
None
Fatalities
0
Serious Injuries
0
Minor Injuries
0
Uninjured
2
Total Aboard
2

Probable Cause and Findings

The flight instructor's failure to maintain pitch control and his improper landing flare, which resulted in a hard landing.

Aircraft Information

Registration
N3667H
Make
ERCOUPE
Serial Number
4292
Engine Type
Reciprocating
Year Built
1946
Model / ICAO
415ERCO
Aircraft Type
Fixed Wing Single Engine
No. of Engines
1

Registered Owner (Historical)

Name
ABLE FLIGHT INC
Address
91 OAK LEAF LN
Status
Deregistered
City
CHAPEL HILL
State / Zip Code
NC 27516-9440
Country
United States

Analysis

The flight instructor reported that he was going to demonstrate a simulated engine failure on takeoff for a student pilot. After climbing several hundred feet, he reduced the engine power to idle and pitched the airplane to maintain best glide speed. He applied back pressure to the yoke during the landing flare and realized they were going to land harder than desired. The airplane touched down hard on the runway.

The airplane sustained substantial damage to both wings.

The flight instructor reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

Data Source

Data provided by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). For more information on this event, visit the NTSB Records Search website. NTSB# GAA19CA329