# Accident 19980516009489A: Univar 415C, New Lisbon, NY, May 16, 1998

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: May 16, 1998, 13:50 local time
- Place: New Lisbon, NY
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Fcd/Prec Ldg From Cruise
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 42.6000° N, 75.1990° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.6000&lon=-75.1990&mi=10
- Aircraft: N3230H, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N3230H-2012-11-06) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Engineering & Research 415-C (registry code 0420302, https://openairdocs.org/model/engineering-research-415-c) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Continental A&C75 series (registry code 17005, https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-a-c75-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: UNIVAR 415C
- Reported engine: CONT C7512
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 2
- Pilot flight hours: 2,300 total
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB NYC98FA107](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC98FA107) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19980516009489A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

FUEL TRANSFER PUMP FAILED. NO COMPRESSION NR2 CYLINDER. LOST POWER. CRASHED LANDED. (.4) APPROXIMATELY 20 MINUTES AFTER THE PILOT AND PASSENGER DEPARTED ON A LOCAL FLIGHT A WITNESS HEARD THE ENGINE SPUTTER THEN QUIT. THE AIRPLANE THEN MANEUVERED FOR AN OPEN FIELD, IMPACTED IT IN A LEVEL ATTITUDE, AND BURST INTO FLAMES. DURING EXAMINATION OF THE NUMBER 2 PISTON A HOLE FROM DETONATION (ACCORDING TO A FAA ADVISORY CIRCULAR DETONATION CAN BURN A HOLE COMPLETELY THROUGH A PISTON) APPROXIMATELY 1 INCH LONG AND 1/4 INCH WIDE WAS OBSERVED. AT THE ACCIDENT LOCATION, GRASS LAID OVER ON ITS SIDE AND SPACED CONSTANT WITH THE AIRPLANE'S LANDING GEAR MARKED THE START OF THE DEBRIS FIELD. THESE MARKS WERE SUBTLE AND CONTINUED IN THE DIRECTION OF THE WRECKAGE FOR ABOUT 12 FEET. AFTER 12 FEET, THE SLOPE INCREASED AND THE MARKS BECAME MORE PRONOUNCED. FROM THE AIR, THIS SLOPE PRODUCED THE ILLUSION OF BEING LEVEL, BUT IT MEASURED 15 DEGREES UP. (-23) ENGINE DRIVEN FUEL TRANSFER PUMP FAILED. FUEL NOT TRANSFERRED TO HEADER FUEL TANK. GRAVITY FEED OF FUEL TO CARBURETOR. #2 CYLINDER NO COMPRESSION, DUE TO BURNT HOLE IN PISTON.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB NYC98FA107](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC98FA107), May 16, 1998: Ercoupe ERCO-415C (N3230H), New Lisbon, NY, destroyed, 2 fatal. Probable cause: Detonation within the No. 2 cylinder resulting in melting and breaching of the piston, and the pilot's selection of unsuitable terrain for landing. Contributing factors were the uphill terrain…

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft 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. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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