20171006014359A

Accident · Substantial damage

FAA accident report · Ercoupe 415-C · Centre Hall, PA · October 6, 2017

Date: October 6, 2017 · 14:15 local
Place: Centre Hall, PA
Airport: Penns Cave
Phase of flight: Takeoff: Climb Out
Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
Damage: Substantial damage
Aircraft: N3538H
NTSB investigation: NTSBERA18LA007
Reported as: Ercoupe 415-C
Reported engine: Continental A&C75 series
People aboard: 1
Fatal injuries: 0
Other injuries: 0
Pilot’s certificate: Private pilot
Pilot’s flight hours: 275 total

N3538HRegistered now · Ercoupe 415-CS/N 4163 · 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.

Pilot reported low engine power after takeoff rwy 25 (N74) and was unable to climb or maintain altitude. Pilot elected a forced landing in pasture approximately .40 mile from airport.

Aircraft nose gear damaged (collasped) during landing rollout, with left and right wing leading edges damaged by impact with fence posts. Substantial damage sustained. No injuries to 1 POB sustained.

As the FAA filed it

PILOT REPORTED LOW ENGINE POWER AFTER TAKEOFF RWY 25 (N74) AND WAS UNABLE TO CLIMB OR MAINTAIN ALTITUDE. PILOT ELECTED A FORCED LANDING IN PASTURE APPROXIMATELY .40 MILE FROM AIRPORT.

AIRCRAFT NOSE GEAR DAMAGED (COLLASPED) DURING LANDING ROLLOUT, WITH LEFT AND RIGHT WING LEADING EDGES DAMAGED BY IMPACT WITH FENCE POSTS. SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE SUSTAINED. NO INJURIES TO 1 POB SUSTAINED.

NTSB investigation

The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.

NTSB ERA18LA007Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportCentre Hall, PAThe partial loss of engine power due to the No. 2 cylinder exhaust valve being stuck.Oct 6, 2017 · Substantial damage