# NTSB ERA16LA166: Champion 7ECA, N5094X, Tannersville, PA, April 19, 2016 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: April 19, 2016, 14:30 local (18:30 UTC) - Place: Tannersville, PA - Coordinates: 41.064445, -75.251945 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.0644&lon=-75.2519&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Enroute-cruise: Loss of engine power (partial)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report February 11, 2020 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 93040 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA16LA166 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/93040/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=93040 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA16LA166 ## Probable cause A loss of engine power for reasons that could not be determined based on the available evidence. ## 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: [Champion 7ECA, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md?model=21101NN), [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-cruise: Loss of engine power (partial)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342) (defining event); cases with it: [Champion 7ECA, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342/sequence.md?model=21101NN), [All aircraft, 1,858 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342/sequence.md) - [Emergency descent: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440); cases with it: [Champion 7ECA, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=21101NN), [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: [Champion 7ECA, 20 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=21101NN), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The private pilot reported that, while returning from a local flight, the airplane was in cruise flight at 2,800 ft above ground level when the engine started to "sputter" and lost power. He set the mixture to the full rich position and applied the carburetor heat in an attempt to restore power but to no avail. The pilot conducted an emergency landing at an abandoned airfield, during which the left wing impacted the ground and sustained substantial damage. A postaccident examination of the airframe and engine revealed no evidence of preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. While the weather conditions at an airport more than 40 miles away from the accident site were conducive to the formation of serious carburetor ice at cruise power settings, it could not be determined if carburetor icing played a role in the loss of engine power. ## Factual narrative On April 19, 2016, at 1430 eastern daylight time, a Champion 7ECA, N5094X, was substantially damaged during a forced landing to an abandoned airport in Tannersville, Pennsylvania. The pilot and passenger were not injured. The airplane was registered to and operated by East Penn Flying Club, in accordance with Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed for the local flight that departed Allentown Queen City Municipal Airport (XLL), Allentown, Pennsylvania, at 1230.According to the pilot, while returning from a local flight, he was at a cruise altitude of 2,800 ft above ground level when the engine began to "sputter and [lose] power." He set the mixture to the full rich position and applied the carburetor heat in an attempt to restore power, but both efforts had no effect. The airplane continued to lose altitude and the pilot made an emergency landing at an abandoned airfield. During the landing roll, the pilot lost control of the airplane and "ground looped." The pilot stated that after he landed he checked the fuel in both tanks and noted an undetermined amount of fuel in both fuel tanks. Examination of the airplane by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed that it came to rest on the left wing. The left wing was buckled, and the left landing gear separated from the fuselage. During an examination of the fuel system, he noted that the airplane was not equipped with a fuel selector. The right tank was not breached but found empty and left tank was about half full. An examination of the engine did not reveal evidence any preimpact anomalies. At 1435, the recorded weather, about 43 miles and 190° from the accident site, at XLL was: Wind 360° at 10 knots; visibility 7 statute miles; sky condition clear; temperature 50° F; dew point; 36° F; altimeter 30.08 inches of mercury. The temperature and dew point spread were plotted on a carburetor icing probability chart. Their intersection was within the serious icing at cruise power and serious icing at glide power setting envelope. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N5094X](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5094X-2019-08-05), registration cancelled 2019-08-05, S/N 653, built 1969 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CHAMPION 7ECA (NO SERIES) - Registry model: [Champion 7ECA](https://openairdocs.org/model/champion-7eca) (registry code 21101NN) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-235 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-235-series) (registry code 41505, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 653 - Year built: 1969 - Airframe hours: 4219 - Engines: Lycoming O235C1 115 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, January 7, 2016, 15 hours before - Departed: XLL, ALLENTOWN, PA - Destination: XLL, ALLENTOWN, PA - Equipment: Handheld GPS ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 76; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review July 20, 2015; seat: front; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 1,378 total, 368 in this make and model, 1,378 as pilot in command, 11 in the last 90 days, 8 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 330° at 12 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 50 °F, dew point 36 °F - Altimeter: 30.07 inHg - Observed at: XLL, 37 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 20160419018079A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20160419018079A), Apr 19, 2016: Champion 7ECA, Tannersville, PA, Substantial damage. Pilot was on personal flight. Approximately 2.39 hours into flight, engine began sputtering and losing power. Pilot attempted to land aircraft at abondoned… ## Docket (5 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 1, 2019, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=93040. 4.6 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 3.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40476388&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - FAA Inspector's Statement (item 2, .PDF, 108 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40476389&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=FAA%20Inspector%27s%20Statement-Master.PDF - Maintenance Records (item 3, .PDF, 380 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40476390&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Maintenance%20Records-Master.PDF - Weather Reports and Records (item 4, .PDF, 146 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40476391&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Weather%20Reports%20and%20Records-Master.PDF - Photos (item 5, .PDF, 2 photos, 456 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40476392&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photos-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.