# NTSB CEN15LA346: Ercoupe 415, Saint Martin Island, MI, July 18, 2015 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 18, 2015, 19:10 local (23:10 UTC) - Place: Saint Martin Island, MI - Coordinates: 45.605278, -87.156944 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=45.6053&lon=-87.1569&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Enroute: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report November 5, 2015 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 91751 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN15LA346 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/91751/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=91751 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN15LA346 ## Probable cause The failure of a connecting rod bearing, which resulted in a loss of engine power. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Engine (reciprocating): recip eng oil sys](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058550): Aircraft › Aircraft power plant · Failure (probable cause); cases with it: [All aircraft, 130 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058550/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Enroute: Powerplant sys/comp malf/fail](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/340); cases with it: [All aircraft, 820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/340/sequence.md) - [Enroute: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) (defining event); cases with it: [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md) - [Emergency descent: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440); cases with it: [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that he was conducting a cross-country flight in a single-engine airplane when the engine lost oil pressure. Shortly after, the engine lost power and seized. The pilot then made a forced landing on a beach. Examination of the engine revealed that the No. 1 connecting rod bearing had failed and that the camshaft had seized and was broken. The camshaft seizure was consistent with a loss of oil pressure due to the No. 1 connecting rod bearing failure. ## Factual narrative On July 18, 2015, about 1910 eastern daylight time, an Ercoupe 415 airplane, Canadian registration C-FGGS, lost engine power during cruise flight near Saint Martin Island, Michigan. The airline transport rated pilot was not injured and the airplane was substantially damaged during the forced landing. The airplane was registered to and operated by a private individual under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a cross-country flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time. The airplane departed Newberry, Michigan, at 1800, and was destined for Manitowoc, Wisconsin. According to the pilot, while in cruise flight, the engine lost oil pressure. Shortly after losing oil pressure, the engine lost power and seized. The pilot then selected a beach for the forced landing. During the landing, the nose gear collapsed, and the left wing and fuselage were substantially damaged. The wreckage was recovered for further examination. An engine maintenance facility examined the engine and reported that the number one connecting rod bearing had failed and the camshaft was broken. The facility added that the camshaft seizure was consistent with a loss of oil pressure due to the number one connecting rod bearing failure. ## Aircraft - Registration: CFGGS (not matched to a registry record) - Reported make and model: ERCOUPE 415 - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 3646 - Airframe hours: 2582.3 - Engines: Continential C85 reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, May 12, 2015 - Departed: KERY, Newberry, MI - Destination: KMTW, Manitowoc, WI - Flight plan: VFR ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 70; injuries: none; foreign, airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land, multi-engine sea, single-engine sea; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; last flight review January 27, 2015; seat: left; restraint: lap only; flight hours: 38,800 total, 98 in this make and model, 27,700 as pilot in command, 82 in the last 90 days, 25 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 210° at 25 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 84 °F, dew point 75 °F - Altimeter: 29.75 inHg ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 9, 2015, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=91751. 1.2 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 915 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40432594&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Examination Notes (item 2, .PDF, 72 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40432596&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Examination%20Notes-Master.PDF - Photo - Broken Camshaft (Non NTSB Photo) (item 3, .PDF, 223 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40432597&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%20-%20Broken%20Camshaft%20(Non%20NTSB%20Photo)-Master.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.