# NTSB ERA10LA248: Engineering & Research Ercoupe 415-C, N87172, LaGrange, GA, April 28, 2010 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: April 28, 2010, 11:55 local (15:55 UTC) - Place: LaGrange, GA - Coordinates: 33.005279, -85.070274 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.0053&lon=-85.0703&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Initial climb: Fuel starvation](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report May 26, 2011 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 75891 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA10LA248 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/75891/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=75891 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA10LA248 ## Probable cause A loss of engine power due to the pilot's inadequate preflight inspection and his failure to ensure that the fuel tank shut-off valve was open resulting in fuel starvation. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Inspection: preflight inspection](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061510): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Engineering & Research ERCOUPE 415-C, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061510/cases.md?model=0420312), [All aircraft, 551 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061510/cases.md) - [Fuel system: fuel selector/shutoff valve](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022823): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Not used/operated (probable cause); cases with it: [Engineering & Research ERCOUPE 415-C, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022823/cases.md?model=0420312), [All aircraft, 176 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022823/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Initial climb: Fuel starvation](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191) (defining event); cases with it: [Engineering & Research ERCOUPE 415-C, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191/sequence.md?model=0420312), [All aircraft, 733 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191/sequence.md) - [Initial climb: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341); cases with it: [Engineering & Research ERCOUPE 415-C, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=0420312), [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md) - [Landing: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440); cases with it: [Engineering & Research ERCOUPE 415-C, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=0420312), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot completed a preflight inspection of the airplane before taking off and flying to an airport 32 nautical miles (nm) away. There, he made a full stop landing, taxied back, and took off for another airport 16 nm away. Again, he made a full stop landing and taxied back, before taking off for his original departure airport. Just after takeoff, while the airplane was in the traffic pattern downwind leg, about 1000 feet, the engine sputtered twice and lost power. He then attempted to land on the runway, but the airplane landed short and the nose landing gear buckled. Subsequent examination of the airplane revealed that no fuel lines were compromised or blocked, that the fuel lines had little to no fuel in them, and that the gascolator was approximately half full of fuel. In addition, the fuel header tank was empty while the two wing tanks were almost full. The fuel tank shut-off valve, and the main fuel valve were found in the off position, but the pilot stated that he had turned off both upon evacuation of the airplane. He also stated that it was his practice to turn off the fuel tank shut-off valve after every flight. The fuel tank shut-off valve controlled fuel flow from the wing tanks to the header tank. With the lack of fuel found in the header tank, it was likely that the fuel tank shut-off valve had been in the off position for all three flights, which ultimately resulted in fuel starvation to the engine. ## Factual narrative On April 28, 2010, at 1155 eastern daylight time, an Engineering and Research Corporation Ercoupe 415-C, N87172, was substantially damaged during a forced landing at LaGrange-Callaway Airport (LGC), LaGrange, Georgia. The certificated private pilot sustained minor injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. No flight plan had been filed for the local personal flight, which was conducted under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. According to the pilot, he originally departed Newnan-Coweta Airport (CCO), Atlanta, Georgia. Prior to the departure, he added fuel to the airplane, resulting in a total of 7.5 gallons in the left wing tank and 8.5 gallons in the right wing tank. The subsequent preflight inspection was "normal," with no water or debris found in fuel samples from the wing tank sumps or gascolator. The pilot took off from CCO, and flew to Roanoke Municipal Airport (7A5), Roanoke, Alabama, at an altitude of 4,500 feet. After a full stop landing, he back-taxied, and took off for LGC, flying at an altitude of 3,000 feet. The pilot made another full stop landing at LGC, then taxied back and took off again to return to CCO. Just after the pilot took off from LGC, and the airplane was in the traffic pattern downwind leg, about 900 feet, the engine sputtered twice and quit. The pilot then attempted to land on the runway, but the airplane landed short and the nose landing gear buckled. Straight-line distance from CCO to 7A5 was 32 nautical miles, and from 7A5 to LGC was 16 nautical miles. According to a Federal Aviation Administration inspector who subsequently examined the airplane, no fuel lines were compromised or blocked, the fuel lines had "little to no fuel" in them, and the gascolater was approximately half full of fuel. In addition, the fuel header tank was empty, while the two wing tanks were "almost full." The inspector also noted that the "fuel tank shut-off valve," located "in front of the right seat along the floor," and the "main fuel valve" were in the "off" position, but that the pilot advised him that he had turned both off upon evacuation of the airplane. The pilot also stated that it was his practice to turn off the fuel tank shut-off valve after every flight. The inspector further stated that the fuel tank shut-off valve controlled fuel flow from the wing tanks to the header tank, and that the main fuel valve controlled fuel flow from the header tank to the engine. He also noted that the header tank allowed for about 1 hour of flight, as the airplane would burn 6 to 8 gallons per hour. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N87172](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N87172-2019-03-09), registration cancelled 2019-03-09, S/N 345, built 1946 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: ENGINEERING & RESEARCH ERCOUPE 415-C - Registry model: [Engineering & Research ERCOUPE 415-C](https://openairdocs.org/model/engineering-research-ercoupe-415-c) (registry code 0420312) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental A&C75 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-a-c75-series) (registry code 17005, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 345 - Airframe hours: 2178 - Engines: CONT MOTOR A&C75 SERIES 75 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, January 19, 2010, 8 hours before - Departed: LGC, LaGrange, GA - Destination: CCO, Atlanta, GA - Airport: LGC, LaGrange-Callaway, runway 31, 5,600 × 150 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 82; injuries: minor; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review February 16, 2010; seat: left; flight hours: 375 total, 228 in this make and model, 232 as pilot in command, 27 in the last 90 days, 4 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 360° at 6 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 63 °F, dew point 41 °F - Altimeter: 30.03 inHg - Observed at: LGC ## 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 20100428035559A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20100428035559A), Apr 28, 2010: Engineering ERCOUPE 415, La Grange, GA, Substantial damage. Aircraft N87172 took off from klgc runway 31. On the downwind leg the engine sputtered and stop. The pilot turn torwards the runway and landed stort of runway… ## Other investigations on N87172 (2) 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 ERA15LA379](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA15LA379), Aug 25, 2015: Engineering & Research Ercoupe 415 (N87172), Atlanta, GA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's loss of airplane control, which resulted in a hard landing. - [NTSB ERA13CA155](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA13CA155), Mar 5, 2013: Engineering & Research Ercoupe 415-C (N87172), Newnan, GA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to maintain proper visual lookout during taxi operations, which resulted in a collision with a parked airplane. ## Docket (5 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on March 28, 2011, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=75891. 1.3 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 607 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40334596&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Weather Reports and Records (item 2, .PDF, 51 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40334601&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Weather%20Reports%20and%20Records-Master.PDF - Memorandum for Record: FAA inspector Statement (item 3, .PDF, 55 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40334600&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Memorandum%20for%20Record%3A%20FAA%20inspector%20Statement-Redacted.PDF - Photo 1: Airplane at accident site (courtesy of FAA) (item 4, .PDF, 288 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40334591&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201%3A%20Airplane%20at%20accident%20site%20(courtesy%20of%20FAA)-Master.PDF - Photo 2: Airplane and ground scar (courtesy of FAA) (item 5, .PDF, 266 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40334592&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%202%3A%20Airplane%20and%20ground%20scar%20(courtesy%20of%20FAA)-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.