# Accident 20200703011599A: Champion 7EC, Port O'Conner, TX, July 3, 2020

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: July 3, 2020, 12:15 local time
- Place: Port O'Conner, TX
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Cruise/Level Flight
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 28.4453° N, 96.4411° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=28.4453&lon=-96.4411&mi=10
- Aircraft: N9891B, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N9891B-2021-09-04) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Champion 7EC (registry code 21101NM, https://openairdocs.org/model/champion-7ec) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Continental 0-200 series (registry code 17020, https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-0-200-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CHAMPION 7EC
- Reported engine: CONT MOTOR 0-200 SERIES
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 1,079 total
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CEN20LA260](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN20LA260) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20200703011599A

## Narrative

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

ON JULY 14, 2020 12:15 CDT N9891B A CHAMPION 7EC LOST POWER TO THE ENGINE,  AND LANDED IN A FIELD NEAR PORT O'CONNER, TX. THE AIRCRAFT MAIN LANDING COLLAPSED AND THE ENGINE WAS PARTIALLY TORN FROM THE ENGINE MOUNT. THE BROKEN CARBURATOR  BEGAN LEAKING FUEL WHICH CAUGHT FIRE CONSUMING THE ENGINE ACCESSORIES AND FIREWALL FORWARD. THE PILOT AND ONE PASSENGER REPORTED NO INJURIES. THE AIRCRAFT WAS ON A 14 CFR PART 91 VFR FLIGHT AND  ORIGINATED FROM OWNERS PRIVATE STRIP.

PILOT STATEMENT:

PILOT PROVIDED THE FOLLOWING WRITTEN STATEMENT (VERBATIM); WE TOOK OFF FROM OUR PRIVATE STRIP IN THE LONG MOTT AREA AND FLEW FOR ABOUT 20 MINUTES TO THE COUNTY AIRPORT (KPKV) FOR FUEL. AFTER REFUELING, WE TOOK OFF AND FLEW OVER TANNER AIRPORT, THEN TURNED AND FLEW PARALLEL TO THE COAST FOR ABOUT 15 MINUTES. WE WERE OUT OVER THE BAY AT ABOUT 500 FT WHEN THE ENGINE SUDDENLY LOST POWER. I THEN TURNED TOWARD SHORE AND SET UP FOR BEST GLIDE. I MADE IT BACK OVER LAND AT ABOUT 100 FT AGL AND WAS LOOKING FOR A ROAD BUT COULD NOT LOCATE ONE. I THEN LANDED STRAIGHT AHEAD AT A FULL STALL IN THE BRUSH. AFTER CLIMBING OUT OF THE AIRPLANE, WE NOTICED WHITE SMOKE COMING FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. AFTER A MINUTE, IT TURNED TO A BLACK SMOKE SO I RETURNED INSIDE THE AIRCRAFT AND TURNED THE FUEL VALVE AND MASTER SWITCH OFF. I THEN CALLED ON MY CELL PHONE FOR SOMEONE TO COME PICK US UP AND WE STARTED WALKING TOWARDS THE BAY. A GAME WARDEN WAS FIRST ON THE SEEN AFTER ABOUT 30 MINUTES AND WE COULD SEE SMOKE FOR ABOUT 1 HOUR AFTER LANDING UNTIL IT BURNED ITSELF OUT. WE RETURNED TWO DAYS LATER TO RECOVER THE AIRCRAFT AND IT IS STORED AT THE PRIVATE STRIP WERE WE ORIGINALLY TOOK OFF.

POST-INCIDENT:

N9891B WAS TRAILERED TO THE OWNERS PRIVATE STRIP WHERE A CERTIFICATED  AIRFRAME AND POWER PLANT MECHANIC  CONDUCTED A PARTIAL ENGINE TEAR DOWN FOR THE NTSB AND FAA.

REMOVAL OF THE # THREE CYCLINDER, IDENTIFIED THE # THREE EXHAUST VALVE STUCK IN THE OPEN POSITION IN THE VALVE GUIDE.

THE  ENGINE LOGBOOK REFLECTED ENGINE TOTAL TIME 2378 HRS. AND 378 HRS. SINCE MAJOR OVERHAUL IN NOVEMBER 1989.

## 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 CEN20LA260](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN20LA260), Jul 3, 2020: Champion 7EC (N9891B), Port O'Conner, TX, substantial damage. Probable cause: The loss of engine power due to a stuck intake valve.

## Other reports on N9891B (2)

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

- [Accident 20160706011809A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20160706011809A), Jul 6, 2016: Champion 7EC (N9891B), Placedo, TX, Substantial damage. During cruise flight the engine sputtered and quit then restarted. Moments later the engine quit running and could not be restarted. The PIC choose a landing…
- [Accident 19921226051669A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19921226051669A), Dec 26, 1992: Bbavia STC7 (N9891B), Weatherford, TX, Substantial damage. Low pass over Private strip to chase cows for landing engine failed respond. Landed and rolled into trees.

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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