- Date
- March 11, 1994, 08:45 local (13:45 UTC)
- Place
- Frankfort, MI
- Injuries
- 1 minor
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Takeoff
- Aircraft
- N2965HErcoupe 415-C
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report November 18, 1994
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19940311004899A
- Case key
- 9481
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The pilot's inadequate preflight and failure to maintain adequate airspeed. A factor was fuel contamination resulting in total loss of engine power on takeoff.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
The pilot was at 100 feet AGL during takeoff on a flight to deliver the airplane for annual inspection when a total loss of engine power occurred. During the forced landing, the airplane stalled and contacted the runway in a nose down attitude. The auto gas STC approved airplane had not been flown for several months. During preflight with the airplane parked on a slope, no water was drained from the tanks and a pale 1/2 inch layer at the bottom of the clear gascolator bowl was reported by the pilot. Inspection immediately after the accident revealed approximately 1/4 inch of ice inside the gascolator. Fuel samples from the tanks revealed water and particulates.
Factual narrative
On March 11, 1994, at approximately 0845 hours eastern standard time, an Ercoupe 415-C, N2965H, operated by William Gras of Zeeland, Michigan, experienced a total loss of engine power, stalled and impacted the runway after takeoff from Frankfort City Airport, Frankfort, Michigan and was substantially damaged. The private pilot sustained minor injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. No flight plan was filed. The flight operated under 14 CFR Part 91, as a personal flight and was originating at the time of the accident.
The airplane landed in a nose down attitude and slid 89 feet along the runway. The engine, firewall and forward fuselage sustained substantial damage. The FAA Airworthiness Inspector on scene reported that the engine rotated freely by turning the propeller. The carburetor was destroyed during impact. FAA inspection revealed 1/4 inch of ice inside the gascolator immediately after the accident. The wing fuel tanks were ruptured. The nose fuel tank remained intact and was a source for fuel samples. Fuel samples revealed visible particulate contamination as well as visible water and ice particles.
The pilot stated that he was aware of ice in the gascolator bowl, but felt it would not be a problem since it was in the bottom of the bowl. The pilot stated that the airplane had been tied down outside for the winter and last flown in the fall of 1993.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N2965H
- Reported as
- Ercoupe 415-C
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 3590
- Airframe hours
- 1,735
- Engine
- Continental C-90-12F, 90 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- William J. Gras
- Registered owner
- William J. Gras
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · October 28, 1992 · 42 hours before
- Destination
- GRR · Grand Rapids, MI
- Airport
- 3D4 · Frankfort, runway 14, 3,240 × 50 ft, asphalt
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 57
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land, Single-engine sea
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 835 total · 725 in this make and model · 720 as pilot in command
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 20° at 5 knots
- Visibility
- 20 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 25 °F, dew point 18 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.00 inHg
- Observed at
- GRR, 100 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.