# NTSB CHI00LA162: Ercoupe 415-C, N3232H, Joliet, IL, June 4, 2000 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: June 4, 2000, 09:42 local (14:42 UTC) - Place: Joliet, IL - Coordinates: 41.549884, -88.130187 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.5499&lon=-88.1302&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report July 17, 2001 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 49430 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI00LA162 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/49430/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI00LA162 ## Probable cause the engine failure for undetermined reasons. Factors were the low altitude, remedial action not possible by the pilot, and the ditch. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power, takeoff - initial climb - weather condition - carburetor icing conditions - reason for occurrence undetermined (cause) - altitude - low (contributing factor) - remedial action - not possible, pilot in command (contributing factor) - Overrun, emergency landing after takeoff - terrain condition - ditch (contributing factor) ## Analysis The aircraft lost engine power on initial climb following a touch and go. The aircraft was landed on the remaining runway but went off the end and came to rest in a ditch. The pilot said that, at approximately 100 feet above ground level, the engine '... suddenly stopped running.' An instruction manual for the aircraft states that, 'when the throttle is fully closed, carburetor air heat is applied automatically through a linkage connected with the throttle arm. From half throttle to full throttle, cold air is fed automatically to the engine. However, a manual control is also provided and can be used to keep hot air feeding to the carburetor at more than half throttle setting when icing conditions prevail.' A postaccident examination of the aircraft and engine failed to reveal any preexisting anomalies. A weather report for the accident airport reported a temperature of 14 degrees Celsius and a dewpoint of 14 degrees Celsius. A carburetor icing probability chart from Transport Canada indicates that a temperature of 14 degrees Celsius, and a dewpoint of 14 degrees Celsius is in the range of serious carburetor icing potential at any power setting. A Federal Aviation Administration Advisory Circular states that, 'the effect of throttle icing is a progressive decline in the power delivered by the engine.' ## Factual narrative On June 4, 2000, at 0942 central daylight time, an Ercoupe 415-C, piloted by a private pilot, sustained substantial damage during an overrun following a loss of engine power on initial climb from runway 12 (2,940 feet by 100 feet, wet asphalt) at the Joliet Regional Airport, Joliet, Illinois. The aircraft was performing touch and go landings at the time of the accident. The pilot and his one passenger reported no injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight was not on a flight plan. The local flight originated at 0900. In a written statement, the pilot said that he had just performed a touch and go and was on initial climb out, at approximately 100 feet above ground level, when the engine "... suddenly stopped running." The pilot said that there was only "... enough alt[itude] and time to try and land on the runway." The pilot said that they landed on the runway with approximately 100 feet of runway remaining. The aircraft went off the end of the runway and came to rest in a ditch approximately 200 feet from the departure end of the runway. An instruction manual for the aircraft states that, "when the throttle is fully closed, carburetor air heat is applied automatically through a linkage connected with the throttle arm. From half throttle to full throttle, cold air is fed automatically to the engine. However, a manual control is also provided and can be used to keep hot air feeding to the carburetor at more than half throttle setting when icing conditions prevail." A copy of the instruction manual is appended to this report. A postaccident examination of the aircraft and engine failed to reveal any anomalies that could be associated with a preexisting condition. A weather report for the accident airport reported, approximately 40 minutes after the accident, a temperature of 14 degrees Celsius, and the dewpoint of 14 degrees Celsius. A carburetor icing probability chart from Transport Canada indicates that a temperature of 14 degrees Celsius, and a dewpoint of 14 degrees Celsius is in the range of serious carburetor icing potential at any power setting. Federal Aviation Administration Advisory Circular (AC) 20-113 states that, "the effect of throttle icing is a progressive decline in the power delivered by the engine." ## Aircraft - Registration: [N3232H](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N3232H-2006-03-07), registration cancelled 2006-03-07, S/N 3857, built 1946 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Ercoupe 415-C - Registry model: [Ercoupe 415-C](https://openairdocs.org/model/ercoupe-415-c) (registry code 0420322) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental A&C75 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-a-c75-series) (registry code 17005, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 3857 - Engines: Continental C-75 85 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Mike Greenwald - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, September 1, 1999 - Departed: JOT - Airport: JOT, Joliet Regional Airport, runway 12, 2,940 × 100 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 31; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 102 total, 2 in this make and model, 77 as pilot in command, 10 in the last 90 days, 2 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 140° at 4 knots - Visibility: 5 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 10,000 ft broken - Temperature: 57 °F, dew point 57 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: JOT ## 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 20000604029939A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20000604029939A), Jun 4, 2000: Univar 415C, Joliet, IL, No damage. (-23)Wile attempting a touch and go manuever the a/c lost power and as a result overan the end of the runway. The a/c was destroyed. 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.