# NTSB ERA12LA452: Aeronca 7CCM, N83977, Ocklawaha, FL, July 14, 2012

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: July 14, 2012, 07:15 local (11:15 UTC)
- Place: Ocklawaha, FL
- Coordinates: 29.123611, -81.886947 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.1236&lon=-81.8869&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Enroute-cruise: Fuel exhaustion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 1 minor
- Status: Completed, report December 11, 2012
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation
- Parties: FAA/FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 84321
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA12LA452
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/84321/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=84321
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA12LA452

## Probable cause

The pilot's inadequate preflight inspection, which resulted in a total loss of engine power during cruise flight due to fuel exhaustion.

## 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: [Aeronca 7CCM, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061510/cases.md?model=2110110), [All aircraft, 551 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061510/cases.md)
- [Fluids: fuel](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010): Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware · Not specified (probable cause); cases with it: [Aeronca 7CCM, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md?model=2110110), [All aircraft, 1,695 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md)
- [Planning/preparation: fuel planning](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Aeronca 7CCM, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030/cases.md?model=2110110), [All aircraft, 719 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

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

- [Enroute-cruise: Fuel exhaustion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192) (defining event); cases with it: [Aeronca 7CCM, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192/sequence.md?model=2110110), [All aircraft, 804 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192/sequence.md)
- [Enroute-cruise: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341); cases with it: [Aeronca 7CCM, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=2110110), [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 7CCM, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=2110110), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md)
- [Landing: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Aeronca 7CCM, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=2110110), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot stated that the airplane was last fueled about 3 months prior to the accident and it had not been flown since that day. The pilot added that prior to the accident flight, he conducted a preflight inspection of the airplane, which included verifying that the fuel gauges indicated near full; however, he did not look in the fuel tanks. About 15 minutes after takeoff, about 1,000 feet above ground level, the airplane experienced a total loss of engine power. The pilot established the best glide speed and started to look for a possible place to perform a forced landing. At the same time, he initiated emergency procedures, which included switching the fuel tanks, but the engine did not regain power. The pilot subsequently performed a forced landing to a swampy area. During the landing, the airplane traveled about 50 feet, nosed over, and came to rest inverted. Examination of the airplane revealed that the fuel tanks were not compromised and did not leak any fuel into the swamp water. The fuel tanks did not contain any fuel in them and no fuel was observed in the fuel lines or carburetor. The examination of the airplane and engine did not disclose any evidence of a mechanical malfunction that would have precluded normal operation.

## Factual narrative

On July 14, 2012, about 0715 eastern daylight time, an Aeronca 7CCM, N83977, operated by a private individual, was substantially damaged during a forced landing to a swamp, following a total loss of engine power during cruise flight near Ocklawaha, Florida. The airline transport pilot incurred minor injuries. The personal flight was conducted under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed for the local flight that departed Woods And Lakes Airpark (FA38), Ocklawaha, Florida, about 0700. The pilot stated that the airplane was last fueled on April 15, 2012, and not flown until the accident flight. Prior to the flight, the pilot conducted a preflight inspection of the airplane, which included verifying that the fuel gauges indicated near full; however, he did not look in the fuel tanks. The pilot also drained the fuel sump and did not observe any contamination with the fuel. About 15 minutes after takeoff, while flying over the local area, the airplane was about 1,000 feet above ground level and 3 miles west of FA38 when the engine suddenly began to lose power. The pilot established best glide speed and started to look around for a possible place to land. At the same time, he initiated emergency procedures, which included switching the fuel tanks, but the engine did not regain power. The pilot subsequently performed a forced landing to a swampy area. During the landing, the airplane traveled about 50 feet, nosed-over, and came to rest inverted. According to a Federal Aviation Administration inspector, the firewall was damaged during the nose-over. Further examination of the airplane revealed that the fuel tanks were not compromised and did not leak any fuel into the swamp water. Examination of the fuel tanks did not reveal any fuel in them. Additionally, no fuel was observed in the fuel lines or carburetor. The inspector then conducted a leak test with water and the fuel tanks did not leak any water. The inspector also rotated the crankshaft by hand and confirmed crankshaft, camshaft, and valve train continuity to the rear accessory section of the engine.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N83977](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N83977-2023-04-01), registration cancelled 2023-04-01, S/N 7AC-2663 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: AERONCA 7CCM
- Registry model: [Aeronca 7CCM](https://openairdocs.org/model/aeronca-7ccm) (registry code 2110110) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental C90 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-c90-series) (registry code 17009, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 7AC-2663
- Airframe hours: 3393
- Engines: CONT MOTOR O-200 100 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Leo G Janssens
- Registered owner: Leo G Janssens
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, April 1, 2012, 5 hours before
- Departed: FA38, Ocklawaha, FL
- Destination: FA38, Ocklawaha, FL

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 74; injuries: minor; airline transport, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review February 8, 2012; seat: front; flight hours: 16,000 total, 300 in this make and model, 10,000 as pilot in command, 5 in the last 90 days, 0 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 100° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 73 °F, dew point 66 °F
- Altimeter: 30.06 inHg
- Observed at: OCF, 17 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 20120714013529A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20120714013529A), Jul 14, 2012: Aeronca 7CCM, Ocklawaha, FL, Substantial damage. Aircraft departed home base and climbed to approx 1000 ft AGL. Shortly after reaching 1000 ft the engine quit and was not able to restart. Aircraft made…

## Docket (4 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 19, 2012, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=84321. 1.3 MB in all.

- Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 978 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40379419&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF
- Interview Summary (item 2, .PDF, 51 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40379420&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Interview%20Summary-Master.PDF
- Weather Report (item 3, .PDF, 15 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40379421&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Weather%20Report-Master.PDF
- Photograph 1: Main Wreckage (Photo Courtesy of FAA) (item 4, .PDF, 275 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40379422&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photograph%201%3A%20%20Main%20Wreckage%20(Photo%20Courtesy%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.

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