Ercoupe 415-C, N2788H: Accident occurred April 12, 2014 in Cookson, Oklahoma

NTSB Identification: CEN14LA199
14 CFR Part 91: General Aviation
Accident occurred Saturday, April 12, 2014 in Cookson, OK
Probable Cause Approval Date: 02/23/2015
Aircraft: ERCOUPE 415 C, registration: N2788H
Injuries: 2 Serious.

NTSB investigators may not have traveled in support of this investigation and used data provided by various sources to prepare this aircraft accident report.

The pilot-rated passenger reported that he and the pilot aborted the first takeoff attempt due to a loss of engine power. They taxied the airplane back to the departure end of the runway and applied full and partial power several times but were unable to duplicate the engine problem, so the pilot chose to take off again. Shortly after the airplane became airborne, the engine lost power, and the pilot subsequently landed the airplane in wooded terrain. 

A postaccident examination of the airplane and engine revealed that the fuel tanks were breached during impact; however, some fuel was found in the header tank and gascolator. The carburetor inlet fitting had broken off at impact, and the carburetor bowl was empty. The mixture arm was separated from the carburetor and not safety-wired in the full-rich position. The Nos. 1 and 3 plugs were found blackened. The engine was manually rotated via the propeller, and valve train continuity was established. The primer was found unlocked and partially pulled out. An unsecured primer can cause the engine to run richer than normal, which could result in a rough-running engine, loss of power, and blackened spark plugs. 

The National Transportation Safety Board determines the probable cause(s) of this accident as follows:
The pilot’s failure to properly secure the primer, which resulted in the loss of engine power during takeoff. 

On April 12, 2014, at 1100 central daylight time, N2788H, an Ercoupe 415-C, sustained substantial damage when it made a forced landing after a partial loss of engine power shortly after takeoff from Tenkiller Airport (44M), Cookson, Oklahoma. The pilot and the pilot rated passenger were both seriously injured. The airplane was registered to and operated by the pilot. No flight plan was filed for the flight that was destined for a private airstrip in Etna, Arkansas. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the personal flight conducted under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91.

The pilot rated passenger stated the first takeoff attempt had to be aborted due to a loss of engine power. He and the pilot taxied the airplane back to the departure end of the runway and cleared the engine by applying full and partial power several times. The pilot rated passenger said the engine seemed to be performing well and departed. Shortly after becoming airborne, the engine began to lose power and the pilot made a left turn back toward the runway. The pilot was unable to maintain altitude and landed in wooded terrain. There was no post-impact fire.

A witness, who was a friend of the pilot, provided a statement similar to that of the pilot rated passenger. He also said the pilot had a rough running engine on takeoff the day before the accident and quickly landed. The pilot was unable to duplicate the problem on the ground but noted that the header tank had overflowed. The witness and the pilot then opened the cowling and saw that a large amount of fuel had evaporated and residual fuel stains were observed around the carburetor. The witness then got in the airplane, started the engine and did several high speed taxi-runs with no engine problems. He elected to takeoff and made two full-stop landings. On the second landing, the witness said the header tank began to overflow. The pilot consulted the airplane's manual, and read that a loose gasket in the gas cap might be the cause of the fuel overflowing and tightened the gasket. The next day, the witness asked the pilot if tightening the gasket had resolved the problem and he said it did.

A postaccident examination of the airplane wreckage revealed that all of the fuel tanks were breached and a small amount of fuel was found in the header tank and gascolator. The carburetor inlet fitting was broken from impact and there was no fuel found in the carburetor bowl. The mixture control was disconnected from the carburetor and was not safety-wired in the full-rich position. The top spark plugs were removed and the No.1 and No.3 plugs were black. The engine was manually rotated via the propeller and valve train continuity was established on each cylinder. Inside the cockpit, the primer was found unlocked and partially pulled out. Fuel was also found in the primer line to the carburetor.

The airplane's last annual inspection was completed on February 1, 2014, at an airframe total time of 2,235. The airplane had accrued 15 hours since this inspection. 

The private pilot certificate for airplane single-engine land. His last FAA third class medical certificate was issued in November 2008 and his last biennial flight review was conducted in November 2009. The pilot reported a total of 850 flight hours, of which, 300 hours were in the same make/model as the accident airplane.

The pilot rated passenger held a private pilot certificate for airplane single-engine land. His last FAA third class medical was issued in May 1979. He reported a total of 500 flight hours, of which, 30 hours were in the same make/model as the accident airplane.

http://registry.faa.govN2788H

NTSB Identification: CEN14LA199 
14 CFR Part 91: General Aviation
Accident occurred Saturday, April 12, 2014 in Cookson, OK
Aircraft: ERCOUPE 415 C, registration: N2788H
Injuries: 2 Serious.

This is preliminary information, subject to change, and may contain errors. Any errors in this report will be corrected when the final report has been completed. NTSB investigators may not have traveled in support of this investigation and used data provided by various sources to prepare this aircraft accident report.

On April 12, 2014, about 1050 central daylight time, N2788H, an Ercoupe 415-C, sustained substantial damage after it made a forced landing to wooded terrain after a partial loss of engine power shortly after takeoff from Tinkiller Airport (44M), Cookson, Oklahoma. The pilot and the pilot rated passenger both sustained serious injuries. The airplane was registered to and operated by the pilot rated passenger. No flight plan was filed for the flight that was destined for a private airstrip in Ozark, Arkansas. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the personal flight conducted under 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91.

According to a witness, the airplane experienced engine trouble on the first takeoff attempt but was able to land back on the runway. The airplane then taxied back to the departure end of the runway and took off again. The witness said the airplane began to climb and when it was 100 feet above the ground, the wings dipped back and forth. The airplane then pitched up and descended into trees.



Two men from Ozark, Ark., remained hospitalized Monday after their plane crashed near the Cookson Airport in Cherokee County.

John McCreary, 75, is listed in fair condition, and Albert DeMarco Jr., 85, is listed in serious condition, said a spokeswoman at St. John Medical Center in Tulsa.

The crash occurred at 11:43 a.m. Saturday, less than one-half mile west of Oklahoma 82 and less than one-half mile north of Cookson Bend Road in Cherokee County, an Oklahoma Highway Patrol report states.

The crash occurred shortly after the aircraft took off. Witnesses said they could hear what appeared to be engine trouble and observed the plane flying just above the tree tops before losing sight. The plane was found in a wooded area of a pasture, according to the report.

Officials do not know which man was the pilot of the 1946 Ercoupe, the report states.

Source:    http://www.muskogeephoenix.com

COOKSON - A man who was in a plane crash near Tenkiller Lake Airpark on Saturday morning has been identified.

A St. John spokesperson says the man is Demarco Albert. 

Albert is listed in serious condition, the spokesperson says. 

Another man was in the plane during the crash. Updates on his condition are not available right now. 

The crash happened about a mile away from the Airpark, which is located in Cookson, Okla., just south of Tahlequah.

The Federal Aviation Administration says the plane experienced engine issues after departing from the nearby airport. 

Related: Oklahoma Highway Patrol confirms plane went down at Tenkiller Lake Airpark in Cookson, Okla.

They were flown to St. John Hospital in serious but stable condition. 

Source:   http://www.kjrh.com