# NTSB ERA09LA397: Aeronca 7AC, N2871E, Auburn, ME, July 11, 2009 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 11, 2009, 10:50 local (14:50 UTC) - Place: Auburn, ME - Coordinates: 44.042221, -70.283332 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=44.0422&lon=-70.2833&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Enroute-cruise: Fuel contamination](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/193) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report December 29, 2009 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 74251 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA09LA397 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/74251/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=74251 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA09LA397 ## Probable cause A loss of engine power due to fuel contamination. Contributing to the accident was the inadequate maintenance inspection of the airplane and engine's fuel system. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Fuel system](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022800): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Fatigue/wear/corrosion (probable cause); cases with it: [Aeronca 7AC, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022800/cases.md?model=2110102), [All aircraft, 181 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022800/cases.md) - [Maintenance](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02062000): Personnel issues › Task performance · Maintenance personnel (probable cause); cases with it: [Aeronca 7AC, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02062000/cases.md?model=2110102), [All aircraft, 143 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02062000/cases.md) - [Fuel system](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022800): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Not serviced/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Aeronca 7AC, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022800/cases.md?model=2110102), [All aircraft, 181 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022800/cases.md) - [Fluids: fuel](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010): Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware · Fluid condition; cases with it: [Aeronca 7AC, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md?model=2110102), [All aircraft, 1,695 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Prior to flight: Aircraft maintenance event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/040); cases with it: [Aeronca 7AC, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/040/sequence.md?model=2110102), [All aircraft, 484 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/040/sequence.md) - [Enroute-cruise: Fuel contamination](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/193) (defining event); cases with it: [Aeronca 7AC, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/193/sequence.md?model=2110102), [All aircraft, 225 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/193/sequence.md) - [Enroute-cruise: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341); cases with it: [Aeronca 7AC, 10 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=2110102), [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/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 stated that they were at 2,800 ft agl, when the engine lost all power. He tried to restore power by applying carburetor heat, but was unsuccessful. He subsequently made a forced landing on a golf course, and the airplane flipped over inverted. Further examination of the airplane by a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector revealed that dirt and rust contamination was found in the gascolator, carburetor fuel bowl, and carburetor nozzles. ## Factual narrative On July 11, 2009, about 1050 eastern daylight time, an Aeronca Champ 7AC, N2871E had a total loss of engine power and nosed over while making a forced landing on a golf course near Auburn/Lewiston Municipal Airport, Maine. The private pilot and passenger were uninjured, and the airplane was substantially damaged by impact forces. The flight was operated as a personal flight under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 91 and no flight plan was filed. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The pilot stated that he had just sold the airplane and was acting as pilot in command during the flight. He said that they were at 2,800 ft agl, when the engine lost all power. He tried to restore power by applying carburetor heat, but was unsuccessful. He subsequently made a forced landing on a golf course and the airplane flipped over inverted. Examination of the airplane by a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector revealed that; the pilot had drained all of the fuel out of the fuel tanks prior to his arrival. The FAA inspector stated that approximately 10 gallons of fuel was drained from the both wing tanks. Fuel samples were taken from the tanks at the fuel facility, and no contamination was noted. During further examination of the airplane, dirt and rust contamination was found in the gascolator, carburetor fuel bowl, and in the carburetor nozzles. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N2871E](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N2871E), registered now, S/N 7AC-6454, 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-6454 - Airframe hours: 1638 - Engines: CONT MOTOR A&C65 SERIES 65 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Mcgowan Patrick Kirk - Registered owner: Mcgowan Patrick Kirk - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, May 5, 2009 - Departed: WVL, Waterville, ME - Destination: LEW, Auburn/Lewiston, ME ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 53; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land, single-engine sea; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; seat: rear; flight hours: 1,500 total ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 180° at 11 knots, gusting 14 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 73 °F, dew point 57 °F - Altimeter: 30.15 inHg - Observed at: LEW, 3 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 20090711049169A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20090711049169A), Jul 11, 2009: Aeronca 7AC, Auburn, ME, Substantial damage. The pilot had stated he was at 2800 feet and started to lose power. He switched the magnetos settings from both to left to right going back to both and did not… ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on September 21, 2009, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=74251. 2.1 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 10 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40317472&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Other Pertinent Forms and Reports-Record of Conversation N2871E (item 2, .PDF, 49 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40317473&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Other%20Pertinent%20Forms%20and%20Reports-Record%20of%20Conversation%20N2871E-Master.PDF - Photo 1-gascolator contamination (item 3, .PDF, 324 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40317474&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201-gascolator%20contamination-Master.PDF - Photo 2-FAA fuel bowl contamination (item 4, .PDF, 1.7 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40317475&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%202-FAA%20fuel%20bowl%20contamination-Master.PDF 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.