# NTSB CEN20LA170: Ercoupe 415, N2275H, Hallettsville, TX, April 30, 2020 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report - Date: April 30, 2020, 14:30 local (19:30 UTC) - Place: Hallettsville, TX - Coordinates: 29.44, -97.06 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.4400&lon=-97.0600&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Enroute: Fuel related](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/190) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 3 - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA FSDO - SAIBs cited in the narratives: [SAIB CE-09-35](https://openairdocs.org/saib/CE-09-35) (OpenAirDocs) - NTSB case key (mKey): 101238 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN20LA170 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/101238/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=101238 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN20LA170 ## Probable cause The partial loss of engine power due to contaminated fuel and carburetor ice. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Fluids: fuel](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010): Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware · Fluid condition (probable cause); cases with it: [Engineering & Research ERCOUPE 415-C, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md?model=0420312), [All aircraft, 1,695 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md) - [Temp/humidity/pressure: conducive to carburetor icing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03031030): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Contributed to outcome (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) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Enroute: Fuel related](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/190) (defining event); cases with it: [Engineering & Research ERCOUPE 415-C, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/190/sequence.md?model=0420312), [All aircraft, 361 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/190/sequence.md) - [Enroute: Loss of engine power (partial)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342); cases with it: [Engineering & Research ERCOUPE 415-C, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342/sequence.md?model=0420312), [All aircraft, 1,858 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot was making a cross-country flight and reported that, about 1 hour into the flight, the engine began to “rattle” and “vibrate.” The engine lost power but remained running with about 1,000 RPMs. The pilot recognized that the airplane could not maintain altitude and executed a forced landing in a field. Upon landing, the airplane nosed over and sustained substantial damage to the forward underside of the fuselage. No mechanical anomalies were found with the engine. The cockpit fuel selector was found in the left fuel tank position. Contaminated fuel was found in the left-wing tank. The source of the fuel contamination could not be determined. The carburetor was heavily soiled. Murky fuel and sediment were present in the gascolator sediment bowl. The airplane was operating in conditions that were conducive to serious carburetor icing at descent power. However, the carburetor heat knob in the cockpit was not engaged. The combination of contaminated fuel and possible carburetor icing likely resulted in the partial loss of engine power. ## Factual narrative On April 30, 2020, about 1430 central daylight time, an Ercoupe 415-C, N2275H, sustained substantial damage when it was involved in an accident near Hallettsville Airport (34R), Hallettsville, Texas. The pilot was not injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. After refueling, the pilot departed from Garner Field Airport (UVA), Uvalde, Texas, about 1330 with an intended destination of Eagle Lake Airport (ELA), Eagle Lake, Texas. The pilot stated that, about 1 hour into the flight, the engine began to “rattle” and “vibrate.” The engine lost partial power and was running with about 1,000 RPMs. The pilot started to fly toward 34R, which was 7 miles away, but realized that the airplane could not maintain altitude and would not make it to the airport. The pilot maneuvered the airplane for an emergency landing in a field. During the landing, the nose landing gear collapsed, and the airplane nosed over. Postaccident examination of the airplane found buckling was on the forward underside of the fuselage by the engine firewall, nose landing gear mount, and wings. Engine drive continuity was confirmed. Intake/exhaust valve functionality and cylinder compression was confirmed. No mechanical anomalies were found with the engine. The lower Nos. 1 and 4 spark plugs were found fouled and carbon bridged. The right-wing fuel tank was found nearly empty, the header fuel tank was about two-thirds full, and the left-wing fuel tank was almost full. The cockpit fuel selector was found in the left tank position. Unidentified contamination was found in a fuel sample taken from the left-wing fuel tank. A fuel sample taken from the pilot’s last refueling source (UVA) found no contaminants. The carburetor was heavily soiled. The carburetor and gascolator/sediment bowl contained sediment and murky fuel. The carburetor heat knob in the cockpit was found not engaged. According to the carburetor icing probability chart in Federal Aviation Administration Special Information Bulletin CE-09-35, with a temperature of 81°F and a dew point of 27°F, the airplane was operating within the range of serious icing at descent power. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N2275H](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N2275H-2021-05-15), registration cancelled 2021-05-15, S/N 2900, 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 A&C75 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-a-c75-series) (registry code 17005, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 2900 - Year built: 1946 - Airframe hours: 1786 - Engines: Continental C85-12F 85 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, May 20, 2019 - Departed: UVA, Uvalde, TX - Destination: ELA, Eagle Lake, TX - Equipment: None ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 57; injuries: none; private; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 500 total, 100 in this make and model, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 81 °F, dew point 48 °F - Altimeter: 30.08 inHg - Observed at: K3T5, 29 nm away - METAR: K3T5 301935Z AUTO 00000KT 10SM CLR 27/09 A3008 RMK AO2 T02720090 ## 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 20200430005419A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20200430005419A), Apr 30, 2020: Engineering & Research ERCOUPE 415-C, Hallettsville, TX, Substantial damage. 02 May 2020, after refueling the listed aircraft and performing a preflight, the aircraft owner operator departed uvalde, Texas (kuva), at approximately… ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on April 18, 2022, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=101238. 1.6 MB in all. - Memorandum for the record pilot statement summary CEN20LA170 (item 1, PDF, 1 page, 138 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13644533&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Memorandum%20for%20the%20Record%20Pilot%20Statement%20Summary%20CEN20LA170_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Memorandum for the record engine airframe and fuel system examination findings CEN20LA170 (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 137 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13645036&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Memorandum%20for%20the%20Record%20Engine%20Airframe%20and%20Fuel%20System%20Examination%20Findings%20CEN20LA170_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Memorandum for record FAA SAIB CE-09-35 carburetor icing probability (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 135 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13675023&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=FAA%20SAIB%20CE-09-35-Rel.pdf - Photo array CEN20LA170 (item 4, PDF, 3 pages, 1.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13645399&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%20Array%20CEN20LA170-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.