# NTSB CEN14LA199: Ercoupe 415 C, N2788H, Cookson, OK, April 12, 2014 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: April 12, 2014, 11:00 local (16:00 UTC) - Place: Cookson, OK - Coordinates: 35.680313, -94.889846 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.6803&lon=-94.8898&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Takeoff: Loss of engine power (partial)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 2 serious - Status: Completed, report February 23, 2015 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - NTSB case key (mKey): 89062 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN14LA199 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/89062/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=89062 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN14LA199 ## Probable cause The pilot’s failure to properly secure the primer, which resulted in the loss of engine power during takeoff. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Engine (reciprocating)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058500): Aircraft › Aircraft power plant · Failure (probable cause); cases with it: [Ercoupe 415-C, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058500/cases.md?model=0420322), [All aircraft, 497 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058500/cases.md) - [Action: lack of action](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041030): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Ercoupe 415-C, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041030/cases.md?model=0420322), [All aircraft, 792 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041030/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Takeoff: Loss of engine power (partial)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342) (defining event); cases with it: [Ercoupe 415-C, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342/sequence.md?model=0420322), [All aircraft, 1,858 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot-rated passenger reported that he and the pilot aborted the first takeoff attempt due to a loss of engine power. They taxied the airplane back to the departure end of the runway and applied full and partial power several times but were unable to duplicate the engine problem, so the pilot chose to take off again. Shortly after the airplane became airborne, the engine lost power, and the pilot subsequently landed the airplane in wooded terrain. A postaccident examination of the airplane and engine revealed that the fuel tanks were breached during impact; however, some fuel was found in the header tank and gascolator. The carburetor inlet fitting had broken off at impact, and the carburetor bowl was empty. The mixture arm was separated from the carburetor and not safety-wired in the full-rich position. The Nos. 1 and 3 plugs were found blackened. The engine was manually rotated via the propeller, and valve train continuity was established. The primer was found unlocked and partially pulled out. An unsecured primer can cause the engine to run richer than normal, which could result in a rough-running engine, loss of power, and blackened spark plugs. ## Factual narrative On April 12, 2014, at 1100 central daylight time, N2788H, an Ercoupe 415-C, sustained substantial damage when it made a forced landing after a partial loss of engine power shortly after takeoff from Tenkiller Airport (44M), Cookson, Oklahoma. The pilot and the pilot rated passenger were both seriously injured. The airplane was registered to and operated by the pilot. No flight plan was filed for the flight that was destined for a private airstrip in Etna, Arkansas. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the personal flight conducted under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. The pilot rated passenger stated the first takeoff attempt had to be aborted due to a loss of engine power. He and the pilot taxied the airplane back to the departure end of the runway and cleared the engine by applying full and partial power several times. The pilot rated passenger said the engine seemed to be performing well and departed. Shortly after becoming airborne, the engine began to lose power and the pilot made a left turn back toward the runway. The pilot was unable to maintain altitude and landed in wooded terrain. There was no post-impact fire. A witness, who was a friend of the pilot, provided a statement similar to that of the pilot rated passenger. He also said the pilot had a rough running engine on takeoff the day before the accident and quickly landed. The pilot was unable to duplicate the problem on the ground but noted that the header tank had overflowed. The witness and the pilot then opened the cowling and saw that a large amount of fuel had evaporated and residual fuel stains were observed around the carburetor. The witness then got in the airplane, started the engine and did several high speed taxi-runs with no engine problems. He elected to takeoff and made two full-stop landings. On the second landing, the witness said the header tank began to overflow. The pilot consulted the airplane's manual, and read that a loose gasket in the gas cap might be the cause of the fuel overflowing and tightened the gasket. The next day, the witness asked the pilot if tightening the gasket had resolved the problem and he said it did. A postaccident examination of the airplane wreckage revealed that all of the fuel tanks were breached and a small amount of fuel was found in the header tank and gascolator. The carburetor inlet fitting was broken from impact and there was no fuel found in the carburetor bowl. The mixture control was disconnected from the carburetor and was not safety-wired in the full-rich position. The top spark plugs were removed and the No.1 and No.3 plugs were black. The engine was manually rotated via the propeller and valve train continuity was established on each cylinder. Inside the cockpit, the primer was found unlocked and partially pulled out. Fuel was also found in the primer line to the carburetor. The airplane's last annual inspection was completed on February 1, 2014, at an airframe total time of 2,235. Theairplane had accrued 15 hours since this inspection. The private pilot certificate for airplane single-engine land. His last FAA third class medical certificate was issued in November 2008 and his last biennial flight review was conducted in November 2009. The pilot reported a total of 850 flight hours, of which, 300 hours were in the same make/model as the accident airplane. The pilot rated passenger held a private pilot certificate for airplane single-engine land. His last FAA third class medical was issued in May 1979. He reported a total of 500 flight hours, of which, 30 hours were in the same make/model as the accident airplane. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N2788H](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N2788H-2014-07-01), registration cancelled 2014-07-01, S/N 3413, built 1946 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: ERCOUPE 415 C - Registry model: [Ercoupe 415-C](https://openairdocs.org/model/ercoupe-415-c) (registry code 0420322) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental C85 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-c85-series) (registry code 17008, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 3413 - Year built: 1946 - Airframe hours: 2235 - Engines: CONT MOTOR C85 SERIES 85 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Demarco Albert - Registered owner: Demarco Albert - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, February 1, 2014 - Departed: 44M, Cookson, OK - Destination: None, Etna, AR - Airport: 44M, Tenkiller, runway 23, 2,600 × 75 ft, grass/turf ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 84; injuries: serious; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; seat: right; restraint: lap only; flight hours: 850 total, 300 in this make and model, 850 as pilot in command, 15 in the last 90 days, 10 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours - Pilot-rated passenger; age 74; injuries: serious; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: sport pilot; seat: left; restraint: lap only; flight hours: 500 total, 30 in this make and model, 450 as pilot in command, 25 in the last 90 days, 5 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 250° at 15 knots, gusting 20 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 3,000 ft broken - Temperature: 75 °F ## 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 20140412011859A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20140412011859A), Apr 12, 2014: Ercoupe 415-C, Cookson, OK, Destroyed. Shortly after takeoff from a local fly-in breakfast the aircraft experienced a loss of power, maneuvered abnormally and impacted the ground in a semi wooded… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 1, 2014, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=89062. 444 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 396 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40417197&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Statement - David Brown (item 2, .PDF, 48 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40417198&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Statement%20-%20David%20Brown-Redacted.PDF 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.