Additional Participating Entity:
Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office; Boston, Massachusetts
Aviation Accident Factual Report - National Transportation Safety Board: https://app.ntsb.gov/pdf
Investigation Docket - National Transportation Safety Board: https://dms.ntsb.gov/pubdms
https://registry.faa.gov/N415WP
Location: Smithfield, RI
Accident Number: CEN19LA213
Date & Time: 06/22/2019, 0551 EDT
Registration: N415WP
Aircraft: Ercoupe 415
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Defining Event: Loss of engine power (total)
Injuries: 1 None
Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General Aviation - Personal
On June 22, 2019 at 0951 EDT, an Ercoupe 415C airplane, N415WP, impacted in a swamp near North Central State Airport (SFZ), Smithfield, Rhode Island, following a total loss of engine power. The sport pilot was not injured. The airplane was substantially damaged. The airplane was registered to a private individual and operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight within the light sport aircraft category. Day visual meteorological conditions were reported at the accident site and along the route of flight about the time of the accident. The flight originated from North Central State Airport (SFZ), Rhode Island, and was destined for Southbridge Municipal Airport (3B0), Massachusetts.
The pilot was about midway between SFZ and 3B0 when he detected the odor of hot oil. He elected to return to SFZ and land. While on approach to land there was a total loss of engine power and the propeller stopped turning. The pilot landed in a swamp short of the approach end of the runway. The left wing separated from the fuselage during the landing.
The wreckage examination was limited due to damage to the airplane and water immersion. The responding FAA inspector was able to verify the engine rotated and compression was present at each cylinder. Oil was drained from the engine crankcase during recovery. Murky water was present in fuel samples taken from the wreckage and the fuel filter was contaminated by water and slime. The fuel control valve was found in the ON position and the carburetor heat knob was found in the IN/OFF position. The carburetor was impact-separated from the engine. Based on the evidence available, no anomalies were noted with the engine or airframe and the source of the oil smell was not identified.
Weather at SFZ at 0950 was reported as temperature 21° C, dewpoint 13° C, wind 320° at 9 kts, altimeter 29.79. According to the FAA carburetor icing chart the weather conditions were conducive to serious carburetor icing at glide power.
Pilot Information
Certificate: Sport Pilot
Age: 70, Male
Airplane Rating(s): Single-engine Land
Seat Occupied: Left
Other Aircraft Rating(s): None
Restraint Used:
Instrument Rating(s): None
Second Pilot Present: No
Instructor Rating(s): None
Toxicology Performed: No
Medical Certification: Sport Pilot None
Last FAA Medical Exam:
Occupational Pilot: No
Last Flight Review or Equivalent:
Flight Time: 900 hours (Total, all aircraft), 24 hours (Total, this make and model), 24 hours (Last 90 days, all aircraft)
Aircraft and Owner/Operator Information
Aircraft Make: Ercoupe
Registration: N415WP
Model/Series: 415 C
Aircraft Category: Airplane
Year of Manufacture: 1946
Amateur Built: No
Airworthiness Certificate: Normal
Serial Number: 770
Landing Gear Type: Tricycle
Seats:
Date/Type of Last Inspection: 05/28/2019, Annual
Certified Max Gross Wt.:
Time Since Last Inspection:
Engines:
Airframe Total Time: 2182.8 Hours as of last inspection
Engine Manufacturer:
ELT: Installed, not activated
Engine Model/Series:
Registered Owner: On file
Rated Power:
Operator: On file
Operating Certificate(s) Held: None
Meteorological Information and Flight Plan
Conditions at Accident Site: Visual Conditions
Condition of Light: Day
Observation Facility, Elevation:
Distance from Accident Site:
Observation Time:
Direction from Accident Site:
Lowest Cloud Condition: Clear
Visibility: 10 Miles
Lowest Ceiling: None
Visibility (RVR):
Wind Speed/Gusts: Light and Variable /
Turbulence Type Forecast/Actual:
Wind Direction: 33°
Turbulence Severity Forecast/Actual:
Altimeter Setting: 29.7 inches Hg
Temperature/Dew Point: 18°C / 15°C
Precipitation and Obscuration:
Departure Point: Smithfield, RI (SFZ)
Type of Flight Plan Filed: None
Destination: Southbridge, MA (3B0)
Type of Clearance: None
Departure Time: 0830 EDT
Type of Airspace: Class G
Airport Information
Airport: North Central State Airport (SFZ)
Runway Surface Type: N/A
Airport Elevation: 441 ft
Runway Surface Condition:
Runway Used: N/A
IFR Approach: None
Runway Length/Width:
VFR Approach/Landing: Forced Landing
Wreckage and Impact Information
Crew Injuries: 1 None
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Passenger Injuries: N/A
Aircraft Fire: None
Ground Injuries: N/A
Aircraft Explosion: None
Total Injuries:1 None
Latitude, Longitude: 41.913056, -71.485278 (est)
Accident Number: CEN19LA213
Date & Time: 06/22/2019, 0551 EDT
Registration: N415WP
Aircraft: Ercoupe 415
Injuries: 1 None
Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General Aviation - Personal
On June 30, 2019 at 0551 EDT, an Ercoupe 415C airplane, N415WP, impacted a pond near North Central State Airport (SFZ), Smithfield, Rhode Island, following a reported loss of engine power. The pilot was not injured. The airplane was substantially damaged. The airplane was registered to a private individual and operated as a 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions were reported at the accident site and along the route of flight about the time of the accident.
The pilot was conducting a local flight when he detected the odor of hot oil. He elected to proceed to SFZ and land. While on approach to land there was a total loss of engine power and the propeller stopped turning. The pilot elected to land in a pond short of the approach end of the runway after determining a nearby road was unsafe to land on due to vehicles.
Aircraft and Owner/Operator Information
Aircraft Make: Ercoupe
Registration: N415WP
Model/Series: 415 C
Aircraft Category: Airplane
Amateur Built: No
Operator: On file
Operating Certificate(s) Held: None
Meteorological Information and Flight Plan
Conditions at Accident Site:
Condition of Light:
Observation Facility, Elevation:
Observation Time:
Distance from Accident Site:
Temperature/Dew Point:
Lowest Cloud Condition:
Wind Speed/Gusts, Direction:
Lowest Ceiling:
Visibility:
Altimeter Setting:
Type of Flight Plan Filed:
Departure Point:
Destination:
Wreckage and Impact Information
Crew Injuries: 1 None
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Passenger Injuries: N/A
Aircraft Fire: None
Ground Injuries: N/A
Aircraft Explosion: None
Total Injuries: 1 None
Latitude, Longitude: 41.913056, -71.485278 (est)
SMITHFIELD, Rhode Island (WJAR) — A Ercoupe 415-C plane crashed in a swamp early Saturday morning, according to airport officials.
Bill Fischer, a spokesman for the Rhode Island Airport Corporation, told NBC 10 News it happened just before 10 a.m.
Fischer said the pilot was approaching North Central State Airport when he missed the runway, saying he was half a quarter short.
The pilot reported that he lost power, added Fischer.
He was transported to Rhode Island Hospital with minor injuries.
Fischer said both the Federal Aviation Administration and Department Of Environmental Management were notified of the crash.
Original article ➤ https://turnto10.com
"Fischer said the pilot was approaching North Central State Airport when he missed the runway, saying he was half a quarter short."
ReplyDeleteNever knew Ercoupes had a coin slot.
Yep. he forgot to the .10 required for carb heat.
ReplyDelete