# NTSB CEN20LA260: Champion 7EC, N9891B, Port O'Conner, TX, July 3, 2020 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report - Date: July 3, 2020, 12:15 local (17:15 UTC) - Place: Port O'Conner, TX - Coordinates: 28.445278, -96.441108 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=28.4453&lon=-96.4411&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Enroute-cruise: Loss of engine power (partial)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 3 - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 101536 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN20LA260 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/101536/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=101536 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN20LA260 ## Probable cause The loss of engine power due to a stuck intake valve. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Engine (reciprocating): recip eng cyl section](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058530): Aircraft › Aircraft power plant · Malfunction (probable cause); cases with it: [Champion 7EC, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058530/cases.md?model=21101NM), [All aircraft, 373 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058530/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Enroute-cruise: Powerplant sys/comp malf/fail](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/340); cases with it: [Champion 7EC, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/340/sequence.md?model=21101NM), [All aircraft, 820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/340/sequence.md) - [Enroute-cruise: Loss of engine power (partial)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342) (defining event); cases with it: [Champion 7EC, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342/sequence.md?model=21101NM), [All aircraft, 1,858 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot departed on a local flight along the coastline. About 15 minutes into the flight, the engine lost power. The airplane would not hold altitude and impacted terrain and brush about 400 yards from the coastline and a small postcrash fire developed in the engine compartment. Postaccident examination revealed substantial damage to the wing struts and bottom fuselage. Examination of the engine found that the No. 3 intake valve was stuck in the open position. A reason for the stuck valve was not identified. It was also noted that the valve springs on all the cylinders were weak; however, it could not be determined if this was due to heat from the engine compartment fire. No other pre-impact abnormalities were found. ## Factual narrative On July 3, 2020, about 1215 central daylight time, a Champion 7EC airplane, N9891B, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Port O'Connor, Texas. The pilot and passenger were not injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. According to the pilot, after adding fuel to the airplane, he departed from the Calhoun County Airport (KPKV) and flew along the coastline. About 15 minutes into the flight, the engine lost power. He established best glide airspeed and turned the airplane towards land. The airplane would not hold altitude and impacted terrain and brush about 400 yards from the coastline. A small post-crash fire developed in the engine compartment; substantial damaged was noted to the wing struts and bottom fuselage. Damage was also found on the main landing gear and propeller. The wreckage was recovered to a hangar and an engine examination was conducted. The examination found that the No. 3 intake valve was stuck in the open position. A reason for the stuck valve was not identified. It was also noted that the valve springs on all the cylinders were weak; however, it could not be determined if this was due to heat from the post-crash engine compartment fire. No other pre-impact abnormalities were found. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N9891B](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N9891B-2021-09-04), registration cancelled 2021-09-04, S/N 211, built 1958 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Champion 7EC (No Series) - Registry model: [Champion 7EC](https://openairdocs.org/model/champion-7ec) (registry code 21101NM) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental 0-200 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-0-200-series) (registry code 17020, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 211 - Year built: 1958 - Airframe hours: 3026 - Engines: Contiental O-200 100 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, September 24, 2019 - Departed: KPKV, Port Lavaca, TX - Destination: Port O'Connor, TX ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 37; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review December 5, 2018; seat: front; flight hours: 1,061 total, 41 in this make and model, 925 as pilot in command, 4 in the last 90 days, 1 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 230° at 6 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Temperature: 93 °F, dew point 79 °F - Altimeter: 30.02 inHg - Observed at: KPKV ## 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 20200703011599A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20200703011599A), Jul 3, 2020: Champion 7EC, Port O'Conner, TX, Substantial damage. On July 14, 2020 12:15 CDT N9891B a Champion 7EC lost power to the engine, and landed in a field near Port O'Conner, TX. The aircraft main landing collapsed… ## Other investigations on N9891B (3) 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 CEN16LA251](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN16LA251), Jul 6, 2016: Champion 7EC (N9891B), Placedo, TX, substantial damage. Probable cause: The inadequate annual inspection of the fuel system that failed to detect a deteriorated fuel line and a misrigged fuel selector, which resulted in fuel starvation and a subsequent total loss of… - [NTSB FTW93LA057](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW93LA057), Dec 26, 1992: Champion 7EC (N9891B), Weatherford, TX, substantial damage. Probable cause: AN ENGINE FAILURE FOR UNDETERMINED REASONS. THE LACK OF SUITABLE TERRAIN FOR THE FORCED LANDING WAS A FACTOR. - [NTSB MIA70F0060](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA70F0060), Jul 5, 1969: Aeronca 7FC (N9891B), Weaver, AL, substantial damage ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 9, 2020, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=101536. 3.8 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 1.9 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=10070044&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=NTSB%206120_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Exam (item 2, PDF, 2 pages, 92 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=10070754&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Accident%20N9891B%200820_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Photos (item 3, PDF, 2 pages, 1.8 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=10070459&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%201-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.