# Accident 20200901009449A: Stinson 108-3, Coleman, MI, September 1, 2020

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: September 1, 2020, 11:15 local time
- Place: Coleman, MI
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Cruise/Level Flight
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 43.7567° N, 84.5858° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.7567&lon=-84.5858&mi=10
- Aircraft: N909C, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N909C) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Stinson 108-3 (registry code 9230408, https://openairdocs.org/model/stinson-108-3) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Franklin 6A4165 series (registry code 27025, https://openairdocs.org/engine/franklin-6a4165-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: STINSON 108-3
- Reported engine: FRANKLIN 6A4165 SERIES
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CEN20LA377](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN20LA377) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20200901009449A

## Narrative

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

ON SEPTEMBER 1, 2020 AT 11:45 EASTERN DAYLIGHT TIME (EDT), A STINSON 108-3 AIRCRAFT, N909C, REGISTERED TO ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ AND OPERATED BY A PRIVATE PILOT FOR A PERSONAL FLIGHT RECEIVED MINOR DAMAGE WHEN IT LANDED IN A BEAN FIELD AND FLIPPED OVER AFTER EXPERIENCING AN ENGINE FAILURE.

VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS AND LIGHT NORTHERLY WINDS PREVAILED AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT. THE PRIVATE FLIGHT WAS BEING CONDUCTED UNDER THE PROVISIONS OF TITLE 14 CODE OF FEDERAL REGULATIONS (CFR) PART 91 WITHOUT A FLIGHT PLAN.  THE PILOT WAS NOT INJURED IN THE ACCIDENT. THE FLIGHT ORIGINATED FROM MT. PLEASANT AIRPORT, (KMOP) MT. PLEASANT, MI AT APPROXIMATELY 11:00 EDT. THE PILOT WAS OVERFLYING A FRIEND?S PROPERTY WHEN THE ENGINE STARTED BACKFIRING AND LOST POWER. THE PILOT DETERMINED HE WOULD NEED TO LAND IN A SOYBEAN FIELD. THE AIRCRAFT FLIPPED OVER AS THE WHEELS BECAME ENTANGLED IN THE DENSE GROUND COVER.

WEATHER WAS REPORTED AT KIKW 9/1/2020 1515Z WIND 340 AT 5 KTS, TEMP 70F DEW POINT 63F ALTIMETER 2991. WEATHER AT KMOP WAS REPORTED AT 9/1/2020 1515Z WIND 360 AT 4 KTS, TEMP 73F DEW POINT 61F ALTIMETER 2991.

EXAMINATION OF THE AIRCRAFT REVEALED DAMAGE TO THE AIRCRAFT WING STRUTS, WINGTIPS, ENGINE COWLING, NOSE CONE, TAIL, LONGERONS, ENGINE MOUNT AND FIREWALL.  SAMPLES TAKEN FROM THE RIGHT WING FUEL TANK REVEALED AUTOMOBILE GASOLINE WITH WATER, RUST AND OTHER CONTAMINANTS. SAMPLES TAKEN FROM THE LEFT WING FUEL TANK REVEALED CLEAN 100LL AVIATION FUEL. THE PILOT INDICATED HE HAD BEEN RUNNING FROM THE RIGHT WING WHEN THE ENGINE SPUTTERED AND LOST POWER. FUEL SAMPLES TAKEN FROM THE ENGINE REVEALED THE SAME PARTICULATE FILLED GASOLINE FOUND IN THE RIGHT TANK. THE OWNER DISASSEMBLED THE CARBURETOR AND FOUND MINOR AMOUNTS OF CONTAMINATION BUT NOTHING SIGNIFICANT. UPON FURTHER INSPECTION IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE GENERATOR DRIVE GEAR HAD COME OFF ITS SHAFT AND FOWLED BOTH MAGNETO GEARS CAUSING THE ENGINE TO QUIT.  THIS WAS CONFIRMED BY AN OFF DUTY FAA FRONT LINE MANAGER ON SITE AT THE TEAR DOWN INSPECTION.

## 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 CEN20LA377](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN20LA377), Sep 1, 2020: Stinson 108-3 (N909C), Coleman, MI, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s improper installation of the generator drive gear, which resulted in a total loss of engine power.

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.