# NTSB ERA19LA202: Aeronca S7EC, N4349C, Jasper, AL, June 21, 2019 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report - Date: June 21, 2019, 13:00 local (18:00 UTC) - Place: Jasper, AL - Coordinates: 33.901111, -87.304168 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.9011&lon=-87.3042&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Approach-VFR pattern final: Fuel contamination](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/193) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 3 - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 99720 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA19LA202 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/99720/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=99720 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA19LA202 ## Probable cause A total loss of engine power due to fuel contamination. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Fluids: fuel](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010): Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware · Fluid condition (probable cause); cases with it: [Champion S7EC, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md?model=21101NS), [All aircraft, 1,695 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Approach-VFR pattern final: Fuel contamination](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/193) (defining event); cases with it: [Champion S7EC, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/193/sequence.md?model=21101NS), [All aircraft, 225 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/193/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Champion S7EC, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=21101NS), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot fueled the airplane to capacity by adding about 5 gallons of aviation fuel to the tank, which had previously been serviced with non-ethanol automotive gasoline. The pilot and passenger then departed on the 25-nautical-mile flight to their destination airport. On final approach for landing, the engine became unresponsive to throttle inputs and subsequently lost total power. The pilot performed a forced landing in a grass field about 600 ft short of the runway, during which the airplane impacted a ditch, resulting in substantial damage. Subsequent maintenance conducted by the pilot’s mechanic revealed that the carburetor bowl contained an unidentified “milky white” substance. Given the lack of other anomalies, it is likely that the fuel contamination resulted in the loss of engine power. The source of the contamination could not be determined based on the available information. ## Factual narrative On June 21, 2019, at 1300 central daylight time, an Aeronca S7EC, N4349C, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Jasper, Alabama. The airline transport pilot and a pilot-rated passenger were not injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The pilot, who was also the owner of the airplane, reported that that he and the pilot-rated passenger added about 5 gallons of 100 low lead aviation fuel to airplane’s fuel tank, which had previously been serviced with non-ethanol automotive gasoline. They then departed on the 25-nautical mile flight. Approaching the destination airport, the pilot reduced engine power, and they conducted a series of “s” turns to slow the airplane and increase separation due to other aircraft in the airport traffic pattern. On the final leg of the traffic pattern, the pilot applied throttle to increase engine power; however, the engine did not respond. The pilot attempted to troubleshoot by checking the fuel, carburetor heat, and magneto switches. He pumped the throttle several times, after which the engine surged, then completely “quit” as the airplane descend through 500 ft. The pilot made a forced landing in a grass field about 600 ft short of the runway. During the landing roll, the airplane impacted a drainage ditch, shearing off the landing gear as the airplane skidded to a stop. Examination of the airplane by a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector revealed substantial damage to the underside of the fuselage. The main fuel tank remained intact and contained about 8 gallons of fuel. Subsequent inspection by the pilot’s mechanic revealed a “gunky” substance in the carburetor bowl. The mechanic stated it had the appearance of a “milky white” liquid. No other anomalies were identified with the engine. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N4349C](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N4349C), registered now, S/N 7EC-368 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Aeronca S7EC (No Series) - Registry model: [Champion S7EC](https://openairdocs.org/model/champion-s7ec) (registry code 21101NS) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental C90 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-c90-series) (registry code 17009, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 7EC-368 - Year built: 1955 - Engines: Continental C90-12F 95 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: PVT, Hayden, AL - Destination: JFX, Jasper, AL - Airport: JFX, Walker County-Bevill Field, runway 27, 5,004 × 100 ft - Equipment: None ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 86; injuries: none; airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: basicmed; last flight review August 26, 2017; seat: rear; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 19,050 total, 300 in this make and model, 15,733 as pilot in command, 77 in the last 90 days, 15 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours - Pilot-rated passenger; age 19; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; seat: front; restraint: 3-point ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Temperature: 93 °F, dew point 75 °F - Altimeter: 30.01 inHg - Observed at: JFX - METAR: METAR KJFX 211655Z AUTO 10SM SCT035 SCT042 34/24 A3001 RMK AO2= ## 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 20190621007729A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20190621007729A), Jun 21, 2019: Champion S7EC, Jasper, AL, Substantial damage. During final approach, aircraft experienced loss of power. Forced landing in grass field short of runway. No injuries. Aircraft was substantially damaged. ## Docket (5 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on March 2, 2022, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=99720. 1.9 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 7 pages, 488 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=8137217&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Pilot%206120%20Accident%20Report_Redacted-Rel.pdf - FAA inspectors statement (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 14 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=8137233&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=N4349C%20Inspector%20Statement-Rel.pdf - Record of conversation_pilot and mechanic (item 3, PDF, 2 pages, 131 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12703823&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation_Pilot%20and%20Mechanic-Rel.pdf - Memorandum for record_FAA overview of accident location (item 4, PDF, 1 page, 343 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12702326&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Memorandum%20for%20Record_FAA-Rel.pdf - Photo array_airplane damage and accident site (item 5, PDF, 3 pages, 945 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12703298&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Accident%20Site%20and%20Damage%20Photographs-Rel.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.