# NTSB ERA09LA151: Aeronca 7AC, N3066E, Cameron, SC, February 1, 2009

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: February 1, 2009, 15:30 local (20:30 UTC)
- Place: Cameron, SC
- Coordinates: 33.556945, -80.64833 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.5569&lon=-80.6483&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Enroute-cruise: Loss of engine power (partial)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report July 28, 2009
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation
- Parties: FAA/FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 73305
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA09LA151
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/73305/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA09LA151

## Probable cause

A loss of engine power for undetermined reasons.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Not determined](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000): Not determined › Not determined · Unknown/Not determined (probable cause); cases with it: [Aeronca 7AC, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md?model=2110102), [All aircraft, 2,247 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Enroute-cruise: Loss of engine power (partial)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342) (defining event); cases with it: [Aeronca 7AC, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342/sequence.md?model=2110102), [All aircraft, 1,858 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342/sequence.md)
- [Emergency descent: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440); cases with it: [Aeronca 7AC, 9 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=2110102), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md)
- [Landing-landing roll: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096); cases with it: [Aeronca 7AC, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md?model=2110102), [All aircraft, 2,287 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot reported that he had been flying for about 1 hour, and was at an altitude of 800 feet mean sea level, when the engine began to run rough. The pilot elected to perform a precautionary off-airport landing to a nearby cotton field. During the subsequent landing roll, the airplane nosed over and sustained substantial damage to the firewall and vertical stabilizer. Examination of the engine, which included a test run, did not reveal any preimpact malfunctions. A weather observation taken at an airport located about 30 miles southeast of the accident site, about the time of the accident, included a temperature of 16 degrees Celsius (C) and a dew point of -4 degrees C. The pilot did not use the carburetor heat control after experiencing the engine roughness; however, atmospheric conditions at the time were not conducive to the formation of carburetor ice.

## Factual narrative

On February 1, 2009, about 1530 eastern standard time, an Aeronca 7AC, N3066E, was substantially damaged during a precautionary landing near Cameron, South Carolina. The certificated commercial pilot was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan had been filed for the local flight that departed Owens Field (CUB), Columbia, South Carolina. The personal flight was conducted under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 91. The pilot reported that he had been flying for about 1 hour, and was at an altitude of 800 feet mean sea level, when the airplane's engine began to run rough. The pilot elected to perform a precautionary off-airport landing to a nearby cotton field. During the subsequent landing roll, the airplane nosed over and sustained substantial damage to the firewall and vertical stabilizer. The pilot did not recall the engine rpm and did not use the carburetor heat control after experiencing the engine roughness. He further stated that he departed CUB with 13 gallons of fuel, which he checked prior to takeoff and was absent of contamination. Examination of the airplane by a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector did not reveal any preimpact malfunctions. In addition, the engine was started and test run with no anomalies noted. The airplane had been operated for about 15 hours since its most recent annual inspection, which was performed on December 20, 2008. The pilot reported 800 hours of total flight experience, which included about 200 total hours in the same make and model as the accident airplane. A weather observation taken at an airport about 30 miles southeast of the accident site, at 1553, reported: winds from 200 degrees at 11 knots; visibility 10 statute miles; sky clear; temperature 16 degrees Celsius (C); dew point -4 degrees C; altimeter 30.15 inches of mercury. According to the carburetor icing chart contained in the FAA publication Winter Flying Tips, P-8740-24, the atmospheric conditions at the time of the accident were not conducive for the formation of carburetor ice.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N3066E](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N3066E), registered now, S/N 7AC-6655, built 1946 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: AERONCA 7AC
- Registry model: [Aeronca 7AC](https://openairdocs.org/model/aeronca-7ac) (registry code 2110102) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental A&C65 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-a-c65-series) (registry code 17003, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 7AC-6655
- Airframe hours: 5442
- Engines: CONT MOTOR A-65-8 65 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, December 20, 2008, 15 hours before
- Departed: CUB, Columbia, SC
- Destination: CUB, Columbia, SC
- Airport: None

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 56; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review November 22, 2008; seat: front; flight hours: 800 total, 200 in this make and model, 8 in the last 90 days, 4 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 200° at 11 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 61 °F, dew point 25 °F
- Observed at: CUB, 30 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 20090201002709A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20090201002709A), Feb 1, 2009: Bbavia 7AC, Cameron, SC, Substantial damage. (-23) On February 1, 2009, at approximately 1530 local time, an Aeronca 7AC champ airplane piloted by [privacy data omitted] was cruising at altitude of 800…

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.

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