# NTSB DEN01LA065: Erco 415-C, N1121J, Ivins, UT, March 9, 2001 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: March 9, 2001, 16:45 local (23:45 UTC) - Place: Ivins, UT - Coordinates: 37.180057, -113.710067 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.1801&lon=-113.7101&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report July 30, 2001 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA Flight Standards District Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 51888 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN01LA065 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/51888/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN01LA065 ## Probable cause The unsuitable terrain on which to make a forced landing. A contributing factors was the carburetor icing conditions. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, cruise - weather condition - carburetor icing conditions (contributing factor) - carburetor heat - used, pilot in command (contributing factor) - Forced landing, descent - emergency - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - roll - terrain condition - none suitable (cause) - terrain condition - rough/uneven (contributing factor) - terrain condition - dirt bank/rising embankment (contributing factor) ## Analysis The pilot said there was an intermittent loss of engine power during cruise flight . He suspected carburetor icing "since the Stromberg carburetor, standard [equipment] on the Ercoupe 415C, is prone to icing," and he immediately applied carburetor heat. The carburetor air temperature gauge indicated 10 degrees C. The engine "continued a pattern of power off/power on/power off in cycles of 4 or 5 seconds." He left the carburetor heat on but soon realized that his rate of descent left insufficient altitude to arrive at the destination airport. He landed on rough desert terrain, extensively damaging both wings and the nose and left main landing gears. According to the Carburetor Icing Graph, a temperature of 12 degrees C. and a dew point of 4 degrees C. [as reported by the nearest weather observation station] could result in serious icing at glide power, and a temperature of 10 degrees C. (as reported by the pilot) could result in serious icing at cruise power. ## Factual narrative On March 9, 2001, approximately 1645 mountain standard time, an Erco 415-C Ercoupe, N1121J, owned and operated by the pilot, was substantially damaged when it collided with terrain during a forced landing at Ivins, Utah. The private pilot, the sole occupant aboard, received minor injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed for the personal flight being conducted under Title 14 CFR Part 91. The flight originated at Hurricane, Utah, approximately 1600. According to the pilot's accident report, he departed Hurricane, Utah, and was en route to St. George, Utah, with a "fly-over" at the town of Ivins, where he lived. After circling Ivins and turning towards St. George, there was an "intermittent loss of [engine] power." He suspected carburetor icing "since the Stromberg carburetor, standard [equipment] on the Ercoupe 415C, is prone to icing," and he immediately applied carburetor heat. The engine "continued a pattern of power off/power on/power off in cycles of 4 or 5 seconds." He left the carburetor heat on but soon realized that his rate of descent left insufficient altitude to arrive at St. George. He turned back towards Ivins but was forced to land on rough desert terrain. The nose and left main landing gears struck a dirt berm. The nose gear was bent back and both wings were extensively damaged. The pilot told an FAA inspector that when the engine lost power, the carburetor air temperature gauge indicated 10 degrees C. According to the Carburetor Icing Graph (see public docket), a temperature of 12 degrees C. and a dew point of 4 degrees C. [as reported by the St. George METAR (aviation routine weather report)] could result in "serious icing at glide power," and a temperature of 10 degrees C. (as reported by the pilot) could result in "serious icing at cruise power." ## Aircraft - Registration: [N1121J](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N1121J-2013-04-10), registration cancelled 2013-04-10, S/N 3833, built 1946 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: ERCO 415-C - Registry model: [Ercoupe 415-C](https://openairdocs.org/model/ercoupe-415-c) (registry code 0420322) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental C85 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-c85-series) (registry code 17008, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 3833 - Airframe hours: 1393 - Engines: Continental C-85-12 85 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Ralph E. Huddlestone - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, February 11, 1981, 33 hours before - Departed: 1L8, Hurricane, UT - Destination: SGU, St. George, UT ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 65; injuries: none; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review November 12, 1999; seat: left; flight hours: 424 total, 314 in this make and model, 375 as pilot in command, 3 in the last 90 days, 1 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 90° at 12 knots, gusting 17 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 10,000 ft broken - Temperature: 54 °F, dew point 39 °F - Altimeter: 29.70 inHg - Observed at: SGU ## 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 20010309004759A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20010309004759A), Mar 9, 2001: Univar 415C, Ivans, UT, No damage. (-23) Engine loss power over Ivans, Utah at 4200 feet, pilot suspected carburetor ice, applied carburetor heat, but engine continued to lose power… 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.