# Accident 20090711049169A: Aeronca 7AC, Auburn, ME, July 11, 2009

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: July 11, 2009, 11:45 local time
- Place: Auburn, ME
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Cruise/Level Flight
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 44.0422° N, 70.2833° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=44.0422&lon=-70.2833&mi=10
- Aircraft: N2871E, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N2871E) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Aeronca 7AC (registry code 2110102, https://openairdocs.org/model/aeronca-7ac) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Continental A&C65 series (registry code 17003, https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-a-c65-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: AERONCA 7AC
- Reported engine: CONT MOTOR A&C65 SERIES
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Private pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 1,561 total, 300 in this make and model, 3 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ERA09LA397](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA09LA397) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20090711049169A

## Narrative

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

THE PILOT HAD STATED HE WAS AT 2800 FEET AND STARTED TO LOSE POWER.  HE SWITCHED THE MAGNETOS SETTINGS FROM BOTH TO LEFT TO RIGHT GOING BACK TO BOTH AND DID NOT SEEM TO KAME THE AIRPLANE REGAIN POWER.  WE WERE NOTIFIED BY THE PILOT THEY HAD ALREADY DRAINED THE FUEL INTO 5 GALLON BUCKETS.  THE BUCKETS WERE CONTAMINATED.  I NOTIFIED THE PILOT NOT TO TOUCH THE AIRPLANE ANY FURTHER UNTIL THE FAA HAD RELEASED IT TO HIM OR THE INSURANCE COMPANY.  THE OWNER AND THE PILOT WERE NOTIFIED BY THE FAA THAT THEY COULD MOVE THE AIRCRAFT TO A STORAGE FACILITY AND NOTIFY THE FAA WHERE IT WOULD BE STORED BUT DO NOT DISASSEMBLE TROUBLE SHOOT OR RUN UP THE ENGINE.  NTSB AUTHORIZED FUNDING FOR REMOVAL OF THE CARBURAATOR AND DISASSEMBLING OF THE CARBURETOR ONLY.  AFTER EXAMINING THE CARBURETOR IT WAS NOTED THAT THE SAFEY WIRE WAS CUT ON THE DRAIN PLUG.  THE CARBURETOR AND THE GASOLATER CONTAINED CONTAMINATES.  I BELIEVE THAT THEY STORED THE PLANE IN THE WINTER MOTHS WITH AURTO (STC) GAS AND THEN DRAINED THE FUEL AND FILLED UP WITH 100LL.  I BELIEVE THIS IS A CONTRIBUTING FACTOR TO THE CONTAMINATED SYSTEM.  THE CONTAMINATES WERE OF A UNDETERMINED COMPLSITION.  NO FURTHER INVESTIGATION AT THIS TIME.

## 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 ERA09LA397](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA09LA397), Jul 11, 2009: Aeronca 7AC (N2871E), Auburn, ME, substantial damage. Probable cause: A loss of engine power due to fuel contamination. Contributing to the accident was the inadequate maintenance inspection of the airplane and engine's fuel system.

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.

---
OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.