# NTSB CEN13CA224: Aeronca 65C, N21301, Grand Rapids, MN, March 23, 2013 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: March 23, 2013, 11:30 local (17:30 UTC) - Place: Grand Rapids, MN - Coordinates: 47.103332, -93.453056 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=47.1033&lon=-93.4531&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report July 18, 2013 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA-MSP-FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 86623 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN13CA224 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/86623/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN13CA224 ## Probable cause The student pilot’s failure to adequately lock the primer before takeoff and the flight instructor's failure to verify that the primer was adequately locked. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Fuel system: fuel distribution](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022820): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Incorrect use/operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Aeronca 65-C, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022820/cases.md?model=0190920), [All aircraft, 141 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022820/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: use of equip/system](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015): Personnel issues › Task performance · Student/instructed pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Aeronca 65-C, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015/cases.md?model=0190920), [All aircraft, 1,391 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015/cases.md) - [Attention/monitoring](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021500): Personnel issues › Psychological · Instructor/check pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Aeronca 65-C, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021500/cases.md?model=0190920), [All aircraft, 18 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021500/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Enroute-descent: Fuel starvation](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191); cases with it: [Aeronca 65-C, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191/sequence.md?model=0190920), [All aircraft, 733 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191/sequence.md) - [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) (defining event); cases with it: [Aeronca 65-C, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=0190920), [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096); cases with it: [Aeronca 65-C, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md?model=0190920), [All aircraft, 2,287 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md) ## Analysis The flight instructor hand-propped the engine and the student pilot set the engine controls before the flight. The flight consisted mainly of practicing ground reference maneuvers and slips. The flight instructor reported that they were about 700 feet above the ground when the engine lost all power and the propeller stopped spinning. The flight instructor performed the emergency checklist by memory and located a frozen lake on which to land. The airplane nosed over during the landing roll, which resulted in substantial damage to the wing spars. Photos taken at the accident site showed that the fuel primer control was unlocked and the primer control was at an intermediate position. The flight instructor reported that the student stated he locked the primer control, but only turned the control about 1/8 inch to lock it. The flight instructor stated that the primer control was in its locked position when he checked it before the flight. It could not be determined how the primer control became unlocked. The engine was started and ran normally during the postaccident examination. When the primer control was placed in the position found after the accident and the power was reduced to 1,000 rpm, the engine lost all power. The airplane was not equipped with an electrical system and therefore could not be restarted in flight. ## Factual narrative The certified flight instructor (CFI) hand propped the engine and the student set the engine controls prior to the flight. The flight consisted mainly of practicing ground reference maneuvers and slips. The CFI reported that they were at an altitude of about 700 feet above the ground when the engine lost all power and the propeller stopped spinning. The CFI performed the emergency checklist, by memory, and located a frozen lake on which to land. The airplane nosed over after traveling about 30 feet during the landing roll which resulted in substantial damage to wooded wing spars. Photos taken at the accident site show the fuel primer control was unlocked and the primer control was at an intermediate position. The CFI reported the student stated he locked the primer control, but only turned the control about an eighth of an inch to lock it. The CFI stated primer control was in when he had checked it prior to the flight. It could not be determined how the primer control became unlocked. The engine was started and it ran normally during the postaccident examination. When the primer control was placed in the position found after the accident and the power was reduced to 1,000 rpm, the engine lost all power. The airplane was not equipped with an electrical system and therefore could not be restarted in flight. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N21301](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N21301), registered now, S/N C1058, built 1938 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: AERONCA 65C - Registry model: [Aeronca 65-C](https://openairdocs.org/model/aeronca-65-c) (registry code 0190920) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental A&C65 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-a-c65-series) (registry code 17003, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: C1058 - Airframe hours: 1620 - Engines: Continental A65-8 65 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: David P. Floura - Registered owner: David P. Floura - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, September 12, 2012 - Departed: KGPZ, Grand Rapids, MN - Destination: KGPZ, Grand Rapids, MN ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Flight instructor; age 28; injuries: none; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land, single-engine sea; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review May 19, 2012; seat: right; flight hours: 1,405 total, 10 in this make and model, 1,340 as pilot in command, 50 in the last 90 days, 19 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours - Student pilot; age 57; injuries: none; seat: left; flight hours: 4 total, 4 in this make and model, 4 in the last 90 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 350° at 3 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 4,100 ft broken - Temperature: 32 °F, dew point 19 °F - Altimeter: 30.12 inHg - Observed at: KGPZ, 8 nm away ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20130323003969A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20130323003969A), Mar 23, 2013: Aeronca 65-C, Grand Rapids, MN, Substantial damage. Instructor was conducting flight training and had just demonstrated left and right slips. About 10 seconds later, the engine completely stopped operating and… 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. --- 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.