# NTSB ERA15LA379: Engineering & Research Ercoupe 415, N87172, Atlanta, GA, August 25, 2015 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 25, 2015, 13:35 local (17:35 UTC) - Place: Atlanta, GA - Coordinates: 33, -84 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.0000&lon=-84.0000&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report April 4, 2016 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 92124 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA15LA379 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/92124/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=92124 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA15LA379 ## Probable cause The pilot's loss of airplane control, which resulted in a hard landing. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Engineering & Research ERCOUPE 415-C, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=0420312), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: lateral/bank control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062023): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Engineering & Research ERCOUPE 415-C, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062023/cases.md?model=0420312), [All aircraft, 390 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062023/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) (defining event); cases with it: [Engineering & Research ERCOUPE 415-C, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=0420312), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092); cases with it: [Engineering & Research ERCOUPE 415-C, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md?model=0420312), [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md) ## Analysis The flight was being conducted by the private pilot/owner and an airline transport-rated pilot; it was the airplane's first test flight after an annual inspection and the reinstallation of the wings. The private pilot/owner reported that, after the airplane took off and became airborne, it banked hard left, and the other pilot took control. The other pilot stated that he had to apply full right rudder and aileron to maintain level flight. He climbed the airplane to 400 ft with full power and turned back to land on the departure runway. Once the airplane was over the runway, the pilot reduced the power, and the airplane again banked left. The pilot made a correction, and the airplane then banked right and landed hard next to the runway. A postaccident examination of the airplane revealed no mechanical deficiencies that would have precluded normal operation of the flight controls. The owner also reported that there were no mechanical problems with the airplane. He suggested that the wing attachments may have partially given-way, but no evidence was found indicating that this occurred. ## Factual narrative On August 25, 2015, about 1335 eastern daylight time, an Engineering and Research Ercoupe 415-C, N87172, sustained substantial damage during a precautionary landing at the Newnan Coweta County Airport (CCO), Atlanta, Georgia. The airline transport rated pilot and the private pilot were not injured. The airplane was registered to and operated by the private pilot as a 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 test flight. Visual flight rules conditions were reported at the time of the accident and no flight plan was filed for the local flight that departed from CCO about 1330. This was the airplane's first test-flight after having an annual inspection and its wings re-installed. The owner, who was a private pilot, said he performed the takeoff, but once it became airborne it banked hard left and the other pilot had to take control. The other pilot stated that he had to apply full right rudder and aileron to maintain level flight. He climbed to 400 ft with full power and turned back to land on the departure runway. Once the airplane was over the runway, the power was reduced and the airplane veered to the left. The pilot corrected for the yaw and the airplane yawed to the right and landed hard next to the runway. The nose gear collapsed and the airplane skidded to a stop damaging the propeller and an engine mount. A Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector performed a postaccident examination of the airplane and found no mechanical deficiencies that would have precluded normal operation of the airplane's flight controls. The owner also reported that there were no mechanical problems and was unsure why the airplane was so hard to control. He suggested the wing attachments may have partially given-way but there was no way to prove this occurred. The 88-year old owner held a private pilot certificate for airplane single-engine land. He reported a total of 457 flight hours, of which, 270 hours were in the same make/model as the accident airplane. The owner's last FAA third-class medical was issued on December 3, 2012. The 52-year old pilot held an airline transport pilot rating for airplane multi-engine land, a commercial certificate for airplane single-engine land and instrument airplane, and a certified flight instructor rating for airplane single and multi-engine land. He was also a certified flight engineer with type ratings for BA-300 and DC-9 airplanes. The pilot reported a total of 7,500 flight hours, of which 50 were in the same make and model airplane as the accident airplane. His last FAA first-class medical was issued on March 10, 2015. Weather at the airport at 1355 was reported as wind 330 degrees at 4 knots, visibility 10 miles, and clear skies. ## 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 - Year built: 1946 - Airframe hours: 2319.4 - Engines: CONT MOTOR C-85-12F 85 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Flight test, Part 91 - Operator: Mallard William C - Registered owner: Mallard William C - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, July 1, 2015 - Departed: CCO, Atlanta, GA - Destination: CCO, Atlanta, GA - Airport: CCO, Newnan Coweta County, runway 32, 5,500 × 100 ft, asphalt - Equipment: None ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 52; injuries: none; flight engineer, commercial, private, flight instructor, airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; last flight review August 16, 2015; seat: right; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 7,500 total, 50 in this make and model, 7,400 as pilot in command, 89 in the last 90 days, 32 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours - Pilot-rated passenger; age 88; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review January 14, 2014; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 458 total, 270 in this make and model, 366 as pilot in command, 4 in the last 90 days, 4 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 330° at 4 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Temperature: 81 °F, dew point 59 °F - Altimeter: 29.98 inHg - Observed at: CCO ## 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 20150825017449A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20150825017449A), Aug 25, 2015: Engineering & Research ERCOUPE 415-C, Newnan, GA, Substantial damage. According the passenger?s and pilot?s statement they had departed kcco (coweta county airport, Georgia) for a trip around the pattern. After a preflight… ## 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 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. - [NTSB ERA10LA248](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA10LA248), Apr 28, 2010: Engineering & Research Ercoupe 415-C (N87172), LaGrange, GA, substantial damage. 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. ## Docket (5 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on February 24, 2016, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=92124. 2.3 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 1.9 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40436965&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Written Statement - Pilot (item 2, .PDF, 113 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40436966&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Written%20Statement%20-%20Pilot-Master.PDF - Written Statement - Mechanic (item 3, .PDF, 204 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40436967&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Written%20Statement%20-%20Mechanic-Master.PDF - Written Statement - FAA Inspector (item 4, .PDF, 42 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40436968&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Written%20Statement%20-%20FAA%20Inspector-Master.PDF - Photo (item 5, .PDF, 1 photo, 91 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40436969&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo-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.