# NTSB CHI01LA023: Ercoupe 415-E, N94176, Minier, IL, October 23, 2000 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: October 23, 2000, 16:00 local (21:00 UTC) - Place: Minier, IL - Coordinates: 40.430015, -89.310234 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.4300&lon=-89.3102&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report October 23, 2001 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 50544 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI01LA023 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/50544/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI01LA023 ## Probable cause the carburetor ice and after takeoff, the unsuitable terrain the pilot encountered during the forced landing. Factors were the carburetor icing conditions and the plowed field condition. ## 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 (contributing factor) - carburetor heat - not used, pilot in command - fuel system,carburetor - ice (cause) - Forced landing, emergency landing after takeoff - In flight collision with terrain/water, emergency landing after takeoff - terrain condition - plowed/furrowed (contributing factor) - unsuitable terrain or takeoff/landing/taxi area - encountered, pilot in command (cause) ## Analysis The airplane encountered an in-flight loss of engine power and sustained substantial damage on contact with terrain during a forced landing in a plowed field. The pilot was uninjured. The pilot stated, "The takeoff went normal, power from engine was 2350 RPM at full throttle fuel pressure guage showed 4.5 "(p.s.i.). At 70 M.P.H. climb speed, the engine lost power at approx. 300 ft. A.G.L. applied carb heat, pumped the throttle, ck. elect. pump on O.K. - no power - turned 45 [degrees] landed. In field. (Plowed fld.)" An on-scene examination of the airplane revealed no anomalies. All the spark plugs were found covered with "black soot looking deposits." The temperature was 24 degrees C and the dew point was 16 degrees C. A copy of a Transport Canada Carburetor Icing chart was reviewed. The temperature and dew point were plotted on the chart and their intersection falls in the moderate icing - cruise power or serious icing - descent power area of the chart. ## Factual narrative On October 23, 2000, about 1600 central daylight time, an Ercoupe 415-E, N94176, piloted by a commercial pilot, encountered an in-flight loss of engine power and sustained substantial damage on contact with terrain during a forced landing in a plowed field near Minier, Illinois. The personal flight was operating under 14 CFR Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. No flight plan was on file. The pilot was uninjured. The flight was on initial climbout from the Illinois Valley Parachute Club Airport, near Minier, Illinois and was destined for Capital Airport, near Springfield, Illinois. The pilot stated, "The takeoff went as normal, power from engine was 2350 RPM at full throttle[.] Fuel pressure guage showed 4.5 "(p.s.i.). At 70 M.P.H. climb speed, the engine lost power at approx. 300 ft. A.G.L.[.] Applied carb heat, pumped the throttle, ck. elect. pump on O.K. - no power - turned 45 [degrees] landed. In field. (Plowed fld.)" A Federal Aviation Administration inspector performed an on-scene examination of the airplane. No anomalies were listed in the inspector's statement. All the spark plugs were found covered with "black soot looking deposits." At 1550, the Central Illinois Regional Airport at Bloomington-Normal Airport, near Bloomington/Normal, Illinois, weather observation was: Wind 200 degrees at 5 knots; visibility 7 statute miles; sky condition broken 9,000 feet overcast 18,000 feet; temperature 24 degrees C; dew point 16 degrees C; altimeter 30.38 inches of mercury. A copy of a Transport Canada Carburetor Icing chart was reviewed. The temperature and dew point were plotted on the chart and their intersection falls in the moderate icing - cruise power or serious icing - descent power area of the chart. See appended icing chart. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N94176](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N94176), registered now, S/N 1499 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Ercoupe 415-E - Registry model: [Engineering & Research ERCOUPE 415-E](https://openairdocs.org/model/engineering-research-ercoupe-415-e) (registry code 0420318) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental C85 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-c85-series) (registry code 17008, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 1499 - Airframe hours: 3615 - Engines: Continental C85-12F 85 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Thomas T. Fitzgerald - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, November 15, 1999, 97 hours before - Departed: 81IL, IL - Destination: SPI, SPRINGFIELD, IL - Airport: 81IL, Il Valley Parachute Club ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 66; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 6,756 total, 650 in this make and model, 6,570 as pilot in command, 54 in the last 90 days, 20 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 200° at 5 knots - Visibility: 7 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 9,000 ft broken - Temperature: 167 °F, dew point 142 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: BMI, 20 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 20001023043219A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20001023043219A), Oct 23, 2000: Univar 415E, Minier, IL, Substantial damage. (-23) On 10-23-00 while departing Illinois Valley Parachute club airport the appropriately rated pilot and sole occupant of the aircraft experienced a complete… 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.