# NTSB ERA12LA507: Aeronca 7AC, N83826, Clifford, PA, August 6, 2012 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 6, 2012, 17:20 local (21:20 UTC) - Place: Clifford, PA - Coordinates: 41.61972, -75.59111 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.6197&lon=-75.5911&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Enroute-climb to cruise: Loss of engine power (partial)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report July 29, 2013 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 84661 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA12LA507 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/84661/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=84661 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA12LA507 ## Probable cause Partial loss of engine power for reasons that could not be determined because postaccident examination did not reveal any anomalies that would have precluded normal operation. ## 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-climb to 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) - [Landing-landing roll: Landing area undershoot](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/370); cases with it: [Aeronca 7AC, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/370/sequence.md?model=2110102), [All aircraft, 201 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/370/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: 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) ## Analysis The pilot was departing on a personal flight, and during takeoff, the engine lost partial power. The pilot attempted to return to the airport; however, the airplane was not able to sustain flight, and the pilot elected to land about 60 feet to the west of and parallel to the runway. During the landing, the airplane's landing gear collapsed, which resulted in substantial damage to the fuselage and the landing gear attach points. Postaccident examination did not reveal a mechanical reason for the partial power loss. The reported weather conditions were conducive to serious carburetor icing at glide power; however, the engine was operated at a high power setting for takeoff, so carburetor ice was likely not the reason for the partial power loss of engine power. ## Factual narrative On August 6, 2012, about 1720 eastern daylight time, an Aeronca 7AC, N82836, experienced a partial loss of engine power after takeoff from the Ashlawn Airport (3PN1), Clifford, Pennsylvania. The pilot subsequently landed in a grassy area parallel to the departure runway. The commercial pilot was not injured. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage and gear attach points. The airplane was registered to, and operated by, a private individual under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan had been filed for the local flight. According to the pilot, he departed in a northerly direction and about 100 feet above ground level the engine lost partial power. He attempted to turn 180 degrees and land on the runway in the opposite direction; however, due to the close proximity to the ground, he elected to land approximately 60 feet to the west and parallel to the runway in a field. During the landing, the landing gear collapsed and the aircraft came to rest upright in the tall grass. The fuselage and gear attach points sustained substantial damage. Postaccident examination of the engine by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed that continuity was confirmed throughout the engine from the propeller hub to the rear accessory pad. Fuel was present in the fuel lines, the fuel screen was clear, and the fuel was devoid of water. Thumb compression was confirmed on all cylinders; however, the aft two cylinders were weak in compression. Examination of the bottom spark plugs revealed that at least one of the aft spark plugs was oily. According to the pilot, the airplane's engine was a Continental Motors A-65-8, 65-hp engine that had 2,860 total time in service, 730 flight hours since overhaul, and 72 flight hours since its most recent inspection. The carburetor icing probability chart from DOT/FAA/CT-82/44 Publication revealed a probability of serious icing at glide power at the temperature and dew point reported at the time of the accident. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N83826](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N83826-2018-02-20), registration cancelled 2018-02-20, S/N 7AC-2506, 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-2506 - Airframe hours: 2788 - Engines: CONT MOTOR A-65-8 65 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Unknown - Last inspection: Annual, November 11, 2011 - Departed: 3PN1, Clifford, PA - Destination: 3PN1, Clifford, PA - Airport: 3PN1, Ashlawn Airport, runway 33, 1,800 × 60 ft, grass/turf ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 35; injuries: none; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; last flight review November 11, 2011; seat: front; flight hours: 2,311 total, 72 in this make and model, 1,087 as pilot in command, 14 in the last 90 days, 3 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 330° at 10 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 79 °F, dew point 55 °F - Altimeter: 30.01 inHg - Observed at: AVP, 18 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 20120806015479A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20120806015479A), Aug 6, 2012: Aeronca 7AC, Clifford, PA, Substantial damage. On the first flight of the day, the aircraft took-off on the northwest heading runway. Soon after lift-off he sensed a reduced power condition. He made a 180… ## Docket (8 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 4, 2013, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=84661. 3.9 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 2.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40387153&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Pilot Interview with FAA (item 2, .PDF, 136 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40375438&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%20Interview%20with%20FAA-Redacted.PDF - Memorandum of Record - FAA Inspector Conversation on Damage (item 3, .PDF, 74 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40387158&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Memorandum%20of%20Record%20-%20FAA%20Inspector%20Conversation%20on%20Damage-Master.PDF - Memorandum for Record - Allentown Weather (item 4, .PDF, 122 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40375439&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Memorandum%20for%20Record%20-%20Allentown%20Weather-Master.PDF - DOT/FAA/CT-82/44 Publication - Carburetor Icing Probability Chart (item 5, .PDF, 219 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40387152&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=DOT%2FFAA%2FCT-82%2F44%20Publication%20-%20Carburetor%20Icing%20Probability%20Chart-Master.PDF - Photo 1: Left Side of the Airplane (Courtesy of the FAA) (item 6, .PDF, 449 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40375440&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201%3A%20Left%20Side%20of%20the%20Airplane%20(Courtesy%20of%20the%20FAA)-Master.PDF - Photo 2: Right Side of the Airplane (Coursty of the FAA) (item 7, .PDF, 425 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40375441&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%202%3A%20Right%20Side%20of%20the%20Airplane%20(Coursty%20of%20the%20FAA)-Master.PDF - Photo 3: Engine and Firewall (Courtey of the FAA) (item 8, .PDF, 485 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40375442&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%203%3A%20Engine%20and%20Firewall%20(Courtey%20of%20the%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.