# NTSB DEN00LA159: Aeronca 7BCM, N66581, Santa Fe, NM, August 30, 2000 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 30, 2000, 16:00 local (22:00 UTC) - Place: Santa Fe, NM - Location: 35.6171° N, 106.0894° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs at SANTA FE RGNL (SAF), within about a mile (OpenAirDocs) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.6171&lon=-106.0894&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report April 6, 2001 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 51118 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN00LA159 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/51118/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN00LA159 ## Probable cause Unsuitable terrain for a forced landing. Factors were a complete loss of power due to a stuck needle valve in the carburetor. ## 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, approach - vfr pattern - final approach - fuel system,carburetor - failure,total (contributing factor) - Forced landing, emergency descent/landing - In flight collision with terrain/water, emergency landing - terrain condition - soft - terrain condition - none suitable (cause) ## Analysis During approach to land at the completion of a cross-country flight, the pilot attempted to apply power. The engine failed to respond and an emergency landing was conducted on soft, unsuitable terrain. During the landing, the main landing gear separated, the underside of the fuselage was buckled and the wing attach points were deformed near the wing root from damage to the forward attachments. Examination of the engine provided evidence that the needle valve in the carburetor stuck in the closed position for unknown reasons. ## Factual narrative On August 30, 2000, at 1600 mountain daylight time, an Aeronca 7BCM, N66581, sustained substantial damage during a forced landing approximately 1/4 mile short of runway 20 at Santa Fe Municipal Airport, Santa Fe, New Mexico. The private pilot and sole occupant was not injured. The flight was a cross-country flight operating under Title 14 CFR Part 91 and no flight plan was filed. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. The flight departed Dumas, Texas, at 1200. According to the FAA inspector who responded to the accident, the flight was on final approach to land on runway 20 when the pilot applied carburetor heat about 1/4 mile from the runway and attempted to apply power. The engine did not respond and the aircraft sank below the runway height (runway 20 is on top of a hill). The pilot attempted to land on a dirt road that ran perpendicular to the runway, but ended up landing in a soft dirt field. According to the pilot, when the aircraft touched down in the soft terrain, the main landing gear was sheared off and the chrome-moly tube frame was twisted. In addition, the wing attach points on the fuselage were twisting the wings forward and down. Additionally, the windscreen was cracked and one propeller blade suffered tip damage. Examination of the engine by a mechanic provided evidence that the carburetor needle valve had stuck in the closed position. The reason for the valve sticking could not be determined. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N66581](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N66581), registered now, S/N 47-943 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Aeronca 7BCM - Registry model: [Aeronca 7BCM](https://openairdocs.org/model/aeronca-7bcm) (registry code 2110106) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental C85 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-c85-series) (registry code 17008, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 47-943 - Engines: Continental C-85 85 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Bruce N. Barton - Registered owner: Scott Griesman - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, August 1, 2000, 12 hours before - Departed: DUX, DUMAS, TX - Destination: SAF - Airport: SAF, Santa Fe Municipal, runway 20, 8,324 × 150 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 67; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: front; flight hours: 6,500 total, 800 in this make and model, 6,500 as pilot in command, 85 in the last 90 days, 30 in the last 30 days, 5 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 260° at 7 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 79 °F, dew point 43 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: SAF, 1 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 20000830016929A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20000830016929A), Aug 30, 2000: Bbavia 7BCM, Santa Fe, NM, Substantial damage. (.4)On August 30, 2000, at 1600 mountain daylight time, an Aeronca 7BCM, N66581, sustained substantial damage during a forced landing approximately 1/4 mile… 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.