# Accident 20200430005419A: Engineering & Research ERCOUPE 415-C, Hallettsville, TX, April 30, 2020

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: April 30, 2020, 14:30 local time
- Place: Hallettsville, TX
- Airport: Hallettsville
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Cruise/Level Flight
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 29.4400° N, 97.0600° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.4400&lon=-97.0600&mi=10
- Aircraft: N2275H, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N2275H-2021-05-15) (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: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Private pilot
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CEN20LA170](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN20LA170) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20200430005419A

## Narrative

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

02 MAY 2020, AFTER REFUELING THE LISTED AIRCRAFT AND PERFORMING A PREFLIGHT,  THE AIRCRAFT OWNER OPERATOR DEPARTED UVALDE, TEXAS (KUVA), AT APPROXIMATELY 13:30L, ENROUTE TO EAGLE LAKE, TEXAS (KELA), AT AN APPROXIMATE ALTITUDE OF 3500 FT MSL.

AT APPROXIMATELY 7 MILES NORTHWEST OF THE HALLETSVILLE AIRPORT (34R), NEAR WORTHING, TEXAS THE AIRCRAFT ENGINE BEGAN TO VIBRATE AND LOOSE POWER. THE PIC REDUCED THE POWER SETTING AND BEGAN LOOKING FOR AN ALTERNATE LANDING AREA WHEN IT WAS APPARENT THE FLIGHT COULD NOT REACH THE NEARBY AIRPORT. THE PIC, AFTER AVOIDING POWER-LINES AND MAKING TURNS, REALIZED THE SINK RATE WAS HIGHER THAN PREDICTED. A CATTLE FIELD WAS TARGETED AS AN ACCEPTABLE LANDING AREA. THE LANDING WAS ACCOMPLISHED SUCCESSFULLY WITH THE AIRCRAFT EXPERIENCING DAMAGE TO THE NOSE LANDING GEAR, PROPELLER, ENGINE, FIREWALL AND ENGINE MOUNT.

06/08/2020 THE HOUSTON FSDO IIC PERFORMED A SECOND INSPECTION OF THE AIRCRAFT POWERPLANT AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT AFTER THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN MOVED TO IT'S EAGLE LAKE REGIONAL AIRPORT (KELA) HANGER. THE STROMBERG NA-S3A1 CARBURETOR AND GASCOLATOR / SEDIMENT BOWL ASSEMBLY WAS REMOVED AFTER DISCONNECT OF THE ASSOCIATED TUBES, LINES, CABLES, ETC. ALSO REMOVED WAS THE LOWER NUMBER 1 AND 4 SPARK PLUGS. VISUAL INSPECTION OF THE ITEMS REVEALED MURKY FUEL IN THE BOWL, A SMALL AMOUNT OF SEDIMENT IN THE BOWL, PLUGS THAT WERE LIGHTLY FOULED AND CARBON BRIDGED, THE CARBURETOR WAS SOILED / DIRTY BEYOND THE ACCIDENT DAMAGE.

BASED ON WEATHER CONDITIONS AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT AND THE NTSB CARBURETOR ICING PROBABILITY CHART, PLUS THE STATEMENT GIVEN BY THE PIC, THE AIRCRAFT LOSS OF POWER APPEARS TO HAVE BEEN BROUGHT ABOUT DUE TO CARBURETOR ICING, POOR CONDITION OF THE FUEL AND FUEL SYSTEM.

## 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 CEN20LA170](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN20LA170), Apr 30, 2020: Ercoupe 415 (N2275H), Hallettsville, TX, substantial damage. Probable cause: The partial loss of engine power due to contaminated fuel and carburetor ice.

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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