19970824036339I

Incident · Minor damage

FAA incident report · Univar 415-C · Midland, TX · August 24, 1997

Date: August 24, 1997 · 14:05 local
Place: Midland, TX
Airport: Midland Airpark Airport
Phase of flight: Forced/Precautionary Landing
Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
Damage: Minor damage
Aircraft: N93782
Reported as: Univar 415C
Reported engine: Continental C7512
People aboard: 1
Fatal injuries: 0
Pilot’s flight hours: 680 total250 in this make and model120 in the last 90 days

N93782Registration cancelled May 22, 2013 · Ercoupe 415-CS/N 1105 · Built 1946 Airframe modelErcoupe 415-C Engine modelContinental A&C75 seriesReciprocating

From the FAA’s Accident/Incident Data System (AIDS), through its Aviation Safety Information Portal, as reported. The NTSB investigates accidents separately, and its record of an accident is the fuller one. The aircraft is matched to the registry by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

What happened

The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.

Narrative: the pilot stated he had departed runway 07 at Midland, TX. At about 600' AGL, the engine RPM dropped from 2400 to 2000. He attempted to maintain 80 mph, but the airplane would not maintain altitude. He noticed a golf driving range just off his left, and he maneuvered to a landing there. A mechanical inspection performed by personnel at basin aviation in Midland, TX revealed a valve failure.

As the FAA filed it

NARRATIVE: THE PILOT STATED HE HAD DEPARTED RUNWAY 07 AT MIDLAND, TX. AT ABOUT 600' AGL, THE ENGINE RPM DROPPED FROM 2400 TO 2000. HE ATTEMPTED TO MAINTAIN 80 MPH, BUT THE AIRPLANE WOULD NOT MAINTAIN ALTITUDE. HE NOTICED A GOLF DRIVING RANGE JUST OFF HIS LEFT, AND HE MANEUVERED TO A LANDING THERE. A MECHANICAL INSPECTION PERFORMED BY PERSONNEL AT BASIN AVIATION IN MIDLAND, TX REVEALED A VALVE FAILURE.