# NTSB CEN19LA213: Ercoupe 415, N415WP, Smithfield, RI, June 22, 2019 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report - Date: June 22, 2019, 05:51 local (09:51 UTC) - Place: Smithfield, RI - Coordinates: 41.913055, -71.485275 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.9131&lon=-71.4853&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Approach-VFR pattern final: 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 - NTSB case key (mKey): 99787 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN19LA213 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/99787/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=99787 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN19LA213 ## Probable cause The pilot’s failure to use carburetor heat on approach in weather conditions conducive to carburetor icing, which resulted in a forced landing to a pond. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Temp/humidity/pressure: conducive to carburetor icing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03031030): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Response/compensation (probable cause); cases with it: [Engineering & Research ERCOUPE 415-C, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03031030/cases.md?model=0420312), [All aircraft, 435 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03031030/cases.md) - [Temp/humidity/pressure: conducive to carburetor icing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03031030): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on equipment (probable cause); cases with it: [Engineering & Research ERCOUPE 415-C, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03031030/cases.md?model=0420312), [All aircraft, 435 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03031030/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: use of equip/system](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Engineering & Research ERCOUPE 415-C, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015/cases.md?model=0420312), [All aircraft, 1,391 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015/cases.md) - [Action: forgotten action/omission](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041035): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Engineering & Research ERCOUPE 415-C, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041035/cases.md?model=0420312), [All aircraft, 440 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041035/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Enroute-descent: Other weather encounter](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400); cases with it: [Engineering & Research ERCOUPE 415-C, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400/sequence.md?model=0420312), [All aircraft, 1,127 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400/sequence.md) - [Approach-VFR pattern final: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) (defining event); cases with it: [Engineering & Research ERCOUPE 415-C, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=0420312), [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md) - [Emergency descent: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Engineering & Research ERCOUPE 415-C, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=0420312), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot was about midway to his destination airport in a light sport airplane when he detected the odor of hot oil, so he elected to return to his departure airport to land. While on approach to land, the airplane experienced a total loss of engine power and its propeller stopped turning. After determining a nearby road was unsafe to land on due to vehicles, the pilot elected to land in a pond short of the approach end of the runway. The left wing separated from the fuselage during the landing. Examination of the airplane's engine showed no anomalies, and the source of the odor could not be determined. Examination of the cockpit showed that the fuel control was in the ON position and that the carburetor heat was off. Weather conditions at the airport were conducive to serious carburetor icing at glide power. It is likely that, during the approach, the pilot failed to use carburetor heat and the engine experienced carburetor icing, which led to the loss of engine power. ## Factual narrative On June 22, 2019 at 0951 EDT, an Ercoupe 415C airplane, N415WP, impacted in a swamp near North Central State Airport (SFZ), Smithfield, Rhode Island, following a total loss of engine power. The sport pilot was not injured. The airplane was substantially damaged. The airplane was registered to a private individual and operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight within the light sport aircraft category. Day visual meteorological conditions were reported at the accident site and along the route of flight about the time of the accident. The flight originated from North Central State Airport (SFZ), Rhode Island, and was destined for Southbridge Municipal Airport (3B0), Massachusetts. The pilot was about midway between SFZ and 3B0 when he detected the odor of hot oil. He elected to return to SFZ and land. While on approach to land there was a total loss of engine power and the propeller stopped turning. The pilot landed in a swamp short of the approach end of the runway. The left wing separated from the fuselage during the landing. The wreckage examination was limited due to damage to the airplane and water immersion. The responding FAA inspector was able to verify the engine rotated and compression was present at each cylinder. Oil was drained from the engine crankcase during recovery. Murky water was present in fuel samples taken from the wreckage and the fuel filter was contaminated by water and slime. The fuel control valve was found in the ON position and the carburetor heat knob was found in the IN/OFF position. The carburetor was impact-separated from the engine. Based on the evidence available, no anomalies were noted with the engine or airframe and the source of the oil smell was not identified. Weather at SFZ at 0950 was reported as temperature 21° C, dewpoint 13° C, wind 320° at 9 kts, altimeter 29.79. According to the FAA carburetor icing chart the weather conditions were conducive to serious carburetor icing at glide power. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N415WP](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N415WP-2020-08-31), registration cancelled 2020-08-31, S/N 770, built 1946 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Ercoupe 415 (C) - Registry model: [Engineering & Research ERCOUPE 415-C](https://openairdocs.org/model/engineering-research-ercoupe-415-c) (registry code 0420312) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental C85 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-c85-series) (registry code 17008, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 770 - Year built: 1946 - Airframe hours: 2182.8 - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, May 28, 2019 - Departed: SFZ, Smithfield, RI - Destination: 3B0, Southbridge, MA - Airport: SFZ, North Central State Airport ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 70; injuries: none; sport pilot; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: sport pilot; seat: left; restraint: lap only; flight hours: 900 total, 24 in this make and model, 24 in the last 90 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 64 °F, dew point 59 °F - Altimeter: 29.70 inHg ## 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 20190622007769A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20190622007769A), Jun 22, 2019: Engineering & Research ERCOUPE 415-C, Smithfield, RI, Substantial damage. Aircraft departed North Central State Airport(sfz) enroute to southbridge airport(3BO). Pilot smelled oil smoke, returned to sfz. Entered traffic pattern for… ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on November 8, 2019, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=99787. 3.5 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 1.8 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40477882&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Photos (item 2, .PDF, 7 photos, 1.6 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40477883&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photos-Master.PDF - FAA Icing Probability Chart (item 3, .PDF, 89 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40477884&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=FAA%20Icing%20Probability%20Chart-Master.PDF - Weather Reports and Records (item 4, .PDF, 75 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40477885&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Weather%20Reports%20and%20Records-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.