# Accident 20100428035559A: Engineering ERCOUPE 415, La Grange, GA, April 28, 2010

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: April 28, 2010, 12:00 local time
- Place: La Grange, GA
- Airport: Lagrange-Callaway
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Climb
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 33.0053° N, 85.0703° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.0053&lon=-85.0703&mi=10
- Aircraft: N87172, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N87172-2019-03-09) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Engineering & Research ERCOUPE 415-C (registry code 0420312, https://openairdocs.org/model/engineering-research-ercoupe-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: ENGINEERING ERCOUPE 415
- Reported engine: CONT MOTOR A&C75 SERIES
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 1
- Pilot certificates: Private pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 347 total, 50 in this make and model, 22 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ERA10LA248](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA10LA248) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20100428035559A

## Narrative

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

AIRCRAFT N87172 TOOK OFF FROM KLGC RUNWAY 31. ON THE DOWNWIND LEG THE ENGINE SPUTTERED AND STOP. THE PILOT TURN TORWARDS THE RUNWAY AND LANDED STORT OF RUNWAY 31. UPON LANDING ON THE GROUND SHORT OF THE RUNWAY THE NOSE GEAR COLLASP DAMAGING THE FIREWALL, COWLING, PROPELLER, RH OUTBOARD LEAD EDGE AND ENGINE MOUNT. PILOT REPORTED TO THIS OFFICE THE HEADER TANK WAS EMPTY. WHEN INSPECTOR ARRIVED ON THE SCENE THE HEADER TANK WAS EMPTY AND FUEL LINE HAD LITTLE TO NO FUEL IN THEM. GASOLATOR WAS 1/2 FULL NO EVIDENCE OF CONTAMINATION. WHEN PILOT WAS INTERVIEWED HE STATED THAT BOTH SHUTOFF VALVES WERE OPENED BUT DID NOT CHECK HEADER TANK SITE GAUGE. BOTH WING TANKS WERE NEAR FULL POINT. FUEL PUMP WAS MANUALLY OPERATED AND NO DISCREPANCIES WERE DISCOVERED. FUEL LINES DID NOT SHOW ANY EVIDENCE OF BLOCKAGE.

## 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 ERA10LA248](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA10LA248), Apr 28, 2010: Engineering & Research Ercoupe 415-C (N87172), LaGrange, GA, substantial damage. Probable cause: A loss of engine power due to the pilot's inadequate preflight inspection and his failure to ensure that the fuel tank shut-off valve was open resulting in fuel starvation.

## Other reports on N87172 (2)

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.

- [Accident 20150825017449A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20150825017449A), Aug 25, 2015: Engineering & Research ERCOUPE 415-C (N87172), Newnan, GA, Substantial damage. According the passenger?s and pilot?s statement they had departed kcco (coweta county airport, Georgia) for a trip around the pattern. After a preflight…
- [Accident 20130305004821A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20130305004821A), Mar 5, 2013: Engineering & Research ERCOUPE 415-C (N87172), Newnan, GA, Substantial damage. On March 5, 2012 at approximately 11:30AM, [privacy data omitted]operator [privacy data omitted] was returning from a flight and taxing his aircraft (N87172),…

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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