# NTSB CEN19LA202: Aeronca L16A, N9325H, Zelienople, PA, June 29, 2019 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report - Date: June 29, 2019, 14:18 local (18:18 UTC) - Place: Zelienople, PA - Coordinates: 40.857776, -80.194999 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.8578&lon=-80.1950&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Initial climb: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 3 - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA Flight Standards District Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 99760 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN19LA202 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/99760/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=99760 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN19LA202 ## Probable cause A total loss of engine power due to obstruction of the carburetor air intake by a piece of the air filter gasket that had become detached. ## 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 · Inoperative (probable cause); cases with it: [Aeronca 7BCM, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022820/cases.md?model=2110106), [All aircraft, 141 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022820/cases.md) - [Fuel system: fuel distribution](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022820): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Damaged/degraded (probable cause); cases with it: [Aeronca 7BCM, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022820/cases.md?model=2110106), [All aircraft, 141 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022820/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Initial climb: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) (defining event); cases with it: [Aeronca 7BCM, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=2110106), [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: [Aeronca 7BCM, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=2110106), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot was returning to the airport to practice takeoffs and landings. About 15 minutes into the flight, while flying level at 1,900 ft mean sea level, the engine "abruptly" stopped. The pilot performed a forced landing to a nearby muddy hay field. During the landing roll, the right main landing gear buckled, collapsing the gear rearward and resulting in substantial damage to the right wing and fuselage. Engine control continuity was confirmed, and spark from both magnetos and all spark plugs were noted. A mechanic working on the airplane following the accident reported that a piece of the air filter gasket was lodged in the carburetor intake. It is likely that the obstruction of airflow caused by the gasket resulted in the loss of engine power. ## Factual narrative On June 29, 2019, about 1418 at 1418 eastern daylight time, an Aeronca L-16A (7BCM), N9325H, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Zelienople, Pennsylvania. The pilot was not injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The pilot took off and after practicing turns in the airplane, returned to the airport to practice takeoffs and landings. The airplane had been airborne about 15 minutes and was level at 1,900 ft msl when the engine "abruptly" stopped. The pilot reported there was no warning or abnormal sounds or rpm changes. The pilot attempted to restart the engine, but it would not restart. He then performed a "dead stick" forced landing to a nearby hay field. After touching down and rolling about 100 ft on the muddy surface, the right main landing gear buckled and the airplane came to a stop. The airplane's right wing and fuselage at the landing gear attach point were substantially damaged and the right main landing gear was bent aft. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspectors confirmed there was engine control continuity and noted spark from both magnetos and all plugs. A mechanic working on the airplane found a piece of the air filter gasket lodged in the carburetor intake. Investigators were unable to determine why the gasket separated from the filter. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N9325H](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N9325H), registered now, S/N 47-807 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Aeronca L16A (7BCM) - Registry model: [Aeronca 7BCM](https://openairdocs.org/model/aeronca-7bcm) (registry code 2110106) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 47-807 - Airframe hours: 4131 - Engines: Continental C85-12 85 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Special light-sport (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, October 31, 2018, 10 hours before - Departed: PJC, Zelienople, PA - Destination: PJC, Zelienople, PA - Airport: PJC, Zelienople Municipal - Equipment: Unknown ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 65; injuries: none; private, sport pilot; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: sport pilot, without waivers/limitations; last flight review April 9, 2018; seat: front; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 3,000 total, 3 in this make and model, 3,000 as pilot in command, 3 in the last 90 days, 3 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 160° at 4 knots - Visibility: 7 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 8,500 ft broken - Temperature: 70 °F, dew point 66 °F - Altimeter: 30.10 inHg - Observed at: BTP, 10 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 20190629008639A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20190629008639A), Jun 29, 2019: Aeronca 7BCM, Zelienople, PA, Substantial damage. Aeronca champ L16, departed pjc and experienced an engine failure. Aircraft landed in hay field 3.5 nautical miles north of pjc. Right main gear buckled during… ## Other investigations on N9325H (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 ERA22LA355](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA22LA355), Aug 3, 2022: Aeronca 7BCM (N9325H), Cranberry Township, PA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilots’ failure to maintain directional control of the airplane while landing in gusting wind conditions. ## Docket (5 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 20, 2020, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=99760. 2.5 MB in all. - NTSB form 6120.1-2, pilot-operator aircraft accident report (item 1, PDF, 9 pages, 1.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=8344596&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=NTSB%20Form%206120.1-2,%20Pilot-Operator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report_Redacted-Rel.pdf - E-mail from pilot (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 60 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=8386701&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=%5B5%5DE-Mail%20from%20Pilot_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Carburetor examination (item 3, PDF, 4 pages, 324 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11346363&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=%5B5a%5DCarburetor%20Examination_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Weather report (item 4, PDF, 1 page, 42 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=8345511&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Weather%20Report-Rel.pdf - Accident report photographs (item 5, PDF, 6 pages, 1.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11389907&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=%5B5%5DAccident%20Report%20Photographs-Rel.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.