Summary
On April 30, 2020, a Ercoupe 415 (N2275H) was involved in an incident near Hallettsville, TX. 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 partial loss of engine power due to contaminated fuel and carburetor ice.
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.
This incident is documented in NTSB report CEN20LA170. AviatorDB cross-references NTSB investigation data with FAA registry records to provide comprehensive safety information for aircraft N2275H.
Accident Details
Probable Cause and Findings
The partial loss of engine power due to contaminated fuel and carburetor ice.
Aircraft Information
Registered Owner (Historical)
Analysis
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.
Data Source
Data provided by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). For more information on this event, visit the NTSB Records Search website. NTSB# CEN20LA170