# Accident 20150825017449A: Engineering & Research ERCOUPE 415-C, Newnan, GA, August 25, 2015 - Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported - Date: August 25, 2015, 12:30 local time - Place: Newnan, GA - Damage: Substantial damage - Phase of flight: Landing: Rollout - Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91) - Location: 33.0000° N, 84.0000° W: From the FAA - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.0000&lon=-84.0000&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 & RESEARCH ERCOUPE 415-C - Reported engine: CONT MOTOR A&C75 SERIES - People aboard: 2 - Fatal injuries: 0 - Other injuries: 0 - Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot, flight instructor - Pilot flight hours: 7,000 total, 50 in this make and model, 150 in the last 90 days - NTSB investigation: [NTSB ERA15LA379](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA15LA379) (OpenAirDocs) - FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/) - Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20150825017449A ## Narrative As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^. 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 INSPECTION, THE OWNER OF THE AIRCRAFT IN THE LEFT SEAT AND HIS CFII IN THE RIGHT SEAT TAXIED OUT TO RUNWAY 32 THE OWNER WAS AT THE CONTROLS. THE PILOT MADE A RADIO CHECK, TRANSPONDER CHECK, TURNED THE STROBES ON, AND COMPLETED A NORMAL RUN-UP. THE OWNER OF THE AIRCRAFT STARTED THE TAKEOFF, BUT NEARING THE END OF THE RUNWAY, THE AIRCRAFT BANKED SHARPLY TO THE LEFT. AT THIS POINT, THE CFII TOOK OVER CONTROL OF THE AIRCRAFT AND CLEARED THE END OF THE RUNWAY. THE CFII PUT IN HARD RIGHT AILERON AND RIGHT RUDDER TO MAINTAIN LEVEL FLIGHT, WITH FULL POWER HE CLIMBED TO ABOUT 400FT AGL. THE CFII THEN MADE SHALLOW WIDE LEFT BASE TO FINAL. THE CFI LINED THE AIRCRAFT UP ON THE CENTERLINE, BUT AS THEY MADE THE AIRPORT, AND REDUCED POWER, THE AIRCRAFT YAWED LEFT. CORRECTING THE LEFT YAW, THE CFII YAWED RIGHT AND THEN OVER GRASS TOUCHED DOWN HARD. THE NOSE GEAR BUCKLED AND SKID TO A STOP. ON AUGUST 25TH 2015 FAA, INSPECTORS VISITED CCO AIRPORT AND GAVE APPROVAL TO MOVE AIRCRAFT N87172 FROM THE RUNWAY. ON SEPT. 29 FAA, INSPECTORS VISITED CCO TO LOCATE THE AIRCRAFT AND OWNER. THE AIRCRAFT WAS STORED INSIDE A HANGAR, BUT THE OWNER WAS NOT AVAILABLE. ON OCT. 6, FAA INSPECTORS MET WITH THE AIRCRAFT OWNER, THE CFII THAT WAS FLYING THE AIRCRAFT AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT, AND MECHANIC WHO HAD JUST COMPLETED THE ANNUAL INSPECTION. THIS WAS THE FIRST FLIGHT FOLLOWING THE ANNUAL INSPECTIONS AND WINGS BEING RECOVERED WITH NEW FABRIC. THE NOSE COWLING WAS REMOVED WHEN THE FAA INSPECTORS ARRIVED ON OCTOBER 6TH. THERE IS DAMAGE TO THE PROPELLER, CARBURETOR, ENGINE MOUNT, NOSE GEAR ASSEMBLY AND FIREWALL. FAA INSPECTORS TOOK PICTURES, AND COPIES OF THE OWNER?S PILOT LICENSE, AS WELL AS THE CFII?S LICENSE AND MEDICAL. THERE WAS NO OBVIOUS CAUSE OF THE AIRCRAFT BANK TO THE LEFT SO IT WE AGREED THAT THAT MECHANIC WOULD OPEN THE FLOOR PANELS AND ACCESS THE FLIGHT CONTROLS COMPONENTS OVER THE WEEKEND. WE MET BACK ON OCT. 13TH. THE OWNER AND MECHANIC WERE THERE WITH THE AIRCRAFT OPENED UP. INSPECTION OF THE FLIGHT CONTROLS COMPONENTS SHOWED NO OBVIOUS DISCREPANCIES. AS ON THE PREVIOUS VISIT WITH THE YOKE IN THE NEUTRAL POSITION, THE AILERONS WERE EVEN WITH THE WINGS. YOKE MOVEMENT WITH AILERON MOVEMENT WAS NORMAL. FAA INSPECTOR REQUESTED A STATEMENT FROM THE MECHANIC. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT HE USED THE MAINTENANCE MANUAL TO INSTALL THE WINGS AND CHECK AILERON RIGGING WITH A PROTRACTOR. POSSIBLE CAUSE COULD BE THE AIRFRAME IS DISTORTED FROM PREVIOUS ACCIDENTS OR ONE WING SLIGHTLY DEFORMED FROM PREVIOUS ACCIDENT. ## 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 ERA15LA379](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA15LA379), Aug 25, 2015: Engineering & Research Ercoupe 415 (N87172), Atlanta, GA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's loss of airplane control, which resulted in a hard landing. ## Other reports on N87172 (2) Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date. - [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),… - [Accident 20100428035559A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20100428035559A), Apr 28, 2010: Engineering ERCOUPE 415 (N87172), La Grange, GA, Substantial damage. 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… 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.