# NTSB CHI95LA334: Ercoupe 415-D, N89331, Belleville, IL, September 28, 1995 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: September 28, 1995, 09:30 local (14:30 UTC) - Place: Belleville, IL - Coordinates: 38.480682, -90.000236 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.4807&lon=-90.0002&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report December 19, 1995 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 10042 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI95LA334 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/10042/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI95LA334 ## Probable cause the rupture of the oil pressure line which led to oil system exhaustion, the stuck intake valves, and the powerlines. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(total) - mech failure/malf, cruise - lubricating system,oil line - ruptured (cause) - fluid,oil - exhaustion (cause) - engine assembly,valve,intake - seized (cause) - Forced landing, emergency descent/landing - In flight collision with object, emergency descent/landing - object - wire,transmission (cause) - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled ## Analysis THE AIRPLANE'S ENGINE ABRUPTLY LOST POWER WHILE CRUISING AT 1700 FEET ABOVE GROUND LEVEL. THE PILOT ATTEMPTED A FORCED LANDING TO A CORN FIELD. ON APPROACH, THE LANDING GEAR OF THE AIRPLANE CAUGHT ON SOME POWERLINES. THE AIRPLANE PITCHED DOWN, STRUCK A ROAD AND SLID APPROXIMATELY 30 FEET BEFORE COMING TO A STOP. EXAMINATION OF THE WRECKAGE REVEALED OIL STREAKED DOWN THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE FUSELAGE BEGINNING JUST AFT OF THE ENGINE COWLING. EXAMINATION OF THE ENGINE REVEALED A RUPTURE IN AN OIL PRESSURE LINE LEADING TO THE NUMBER 1 CYLINDER. THE NUMBER 1 AND 2 INTAKE VALVES WERE FOUND STUCK OPEN DUE TO LACK OF LUBRICATION. ## Factual narrative On September 28, 1995, at 0930 central daylight time (cdt), an Ercoupe 415-D, N89331, piloted by a private pilot, sustained substantial damage during an attempted forced landing when the aircraft hit a powerline and subsequently struck the terrain. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The flight was operated under 14 CFR Part 91. A flight plan was not on file. The pilot reported minor injuries. The flight departed St. Charles, Missouri, at 0900 cdt and was en route to Belleville, Illinois. The pilot reported that his engine lost power while cruising at 1700 feet above ground level. "There was an abrupt change in sound and the rpms dropped from 2450 to zero." He indicated that prior to the engine quitting, there were no indications of a problem. The pilot made two attempts to restart the engine with no success. At this time, he realized that he was losing altitude. The pilot picked out a corn field one block north of a highway and along side a major road and began a forced landing. On approach to the field, the landing gear of the airplane caught some high tension powerlines running parallel to the road. The airplane snapped through three of the lines, pitched down, struck the road and slid approximately 30 feet before coming to a stop. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector who examined the wreckage reported finding oil streaked down the right side of the fuselage beginning just aft of the engine cowling and running to the tip of the tail. Upon closer examination of the engine inside the cowling, a line connecting the engine to the cockpit oil pressure gauge was found to be covered in oil and was spongy to the touch. The engine was examined by FAA inspectors at Ben Emge Airport, Belleview, Illinois, on October 4, 1995. A rubber oil pressure line running from the number one cylinder to the firewall was removed to check for damage. When submerged in water and air blown through the line, the line revealed a small hole. The number 3 spark plug and valve cover were removed. The spark plug showed no damage and appearance of normal burning. The engine was pulled through to see the valves operate. The number 1 and number 2 intake valves were stuck in the open position. The intake valve on the number 1 cylinder was staked to see if the valve would close and it did. The engine was pulled through again and the valve stuck open again. The number 2 intake valve also stuck open. Examination of the valves showed signs of inadequate lubrication. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N89331](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N89331-2017-06-30), registration cancelled 2017-06-30, S/N 3269, built 1946 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Ercoupe (Eng & Research Corp.) 415-D - Registry model: [Engineering & Research ERCOUPE 415-D](https://openairdocs.org/model/engineering-research-ercoupe-415-d) (registry code 0420316) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental A&C75 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-a-c75-series) (registry code 17005, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 3269 - Airframe hours: 1744 - Engines: CONTINENTAL O-200-A 100 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Robert G. Schacht - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, June 10, 1995, 30 hours before - Departed: 3SQ, ST. CHARLES, MO - Destination: H13 ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 71; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 747 total, 439 in this make and model, 718 as pilot in command, 19 in the last 90 days, 7 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 60° at 2 knots - Visibility: 5 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 52 °F, dew point 48 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: BVL, 10 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 19950928030579A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19950928030579A), Sep 28, 1995: Univar 415D, Belleville, IL, Substantial damage. Plane nosed down into street after hitting high tension wires. (-4)the airplane's engine abruptly lost power while cruising at 1700 feet above ground level.… ## Other investigations on N89331 (1) 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 ERA11LA014](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA11LA014), Oct 9, 2010: Engineering & Research Ercoupe 415-D (N89331), Lawrenceville, GA, substantial damage, 1 fatal. Probable cause: Inadequate maintenance performed on the airplane, which resulted in a loss of engine power due to fuel starvation. Contributing to the accident was the corrosion within the carburetor. 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.