- Date
- October 1, 1994, 09:00 local (14:00 UTC)
- Place
- Cloverdale, IN
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Enroute
- Aircraft
- N99600Ercoupe 415-C
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report January 25, 1995
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19941001047129A
- Case key
- 9771
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 total loss of engine power due to a blocked orifice in the fuel pump. A related factor is the rough/uneven terrain encountered during the forced landing.
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 student pilot reported the engine lost power during a local flight and he made a forced landing on rough terrain. Postaccident investigation revealed the restrictor fitting orifice on the fuel pump was completely blocked by contamination, obstructing the flow of fuel to the engine. The most recent annual inspection was accomplished 3 1/2 months before the accident. Automotive fuel was used in the airplane.
Factual narrative
On October 1, 1994, at 0900 central daylight time, an Ercoupe 415-C, N99600, piloted by the student pilot/registered owner, experienced a loss of engine power during cruise flight in the vicinity of Cloverdale, Indiana. The airplane sustained substantial damage during the ensuing forced landing on rough terrain. The student pilot, the sole occupant, reported no injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the local flight, no flight plan was filed. The flight originated from a private airstrip in Eminence, Indiana approximately 0830.
Postaccident examination revealed the header fuel tank was not receiving fuel through the fuel pump from the main fuel tanks. The FAA Inspector stated "...Contamination was found in the restrictor fitting...on the fuel pump. This contamination blocked the orifice...." The contamination was described as a "...hard black piece." The FAA Inspector stated the pilot used automotive fuel in the airplane. The most recent maintenance on the airplane was an Annual Inspection performed June 21, 1994. An FAA Inspector statement is appended.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N99600
- Reported as
- Ercoupe 415-C
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 2223
- Airframe hours
- 1,926
- Engine
- Continental C85-12, 85 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional · Part 91
- Operator
- Blaydoe, John B.
- Registered owner
- Blaydoe, John B.
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · June 21, 1994 · 20 hours before
- Departed
- NONE · Eminence, IN
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
- 60
- Certificate
- Student
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 127 total · 105 in this make and model
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 280° at 8 knots, gusting 12
- Visibility
- 20 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 64 °F
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.