# NTSB ERA20LA325: Ercoupe F 1, N3000G, West Kingston, RI, September 21, 2020 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: September 21, 2020, 16:00 local (20:00 UTC) - Place: West Kingston, RI · Solar panel field - Coordinates: 41.499164, -71.590423 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.4992&lon=-71.5904&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Initial climb: Fuel contamination](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/193) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 102009 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA20LA325 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/102009/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=102009 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA20LA325 ## Probable cause The pilot’s failure to conduct a proper preflight inspection and ensure the fuel was uncontaminated, which resulted in a partial loss of engine power and forced landing. ## 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: [Forney F-1, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061510/cases.md?model=0420202), [All aircraft, 551 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061510/cases.md) - [Engine fuel and control: fuel distribution](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057310): Aircraft › Aircraft power plant · Inadequate inspection (probable cause); cases with it: [Forney F-1, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057310/cases.md?model=0420202), [All aircraft, 55 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057310/cases.md) - [Fluids: fuel](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010): Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware · Inadequate inspection (probable cause); cases with it: [Forney F-1, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md?model=0420202), [All aircraft, 1,695 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md) - [Object/animal/substance](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022000): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome (probable cause); cases with it: [Forney F-1, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022000/cases.md?model=0420202), [All aircraft, 224 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022000/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Initial climb: Fuel contamination](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/193) (defining event); cases with it: [Forney F-1, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/193/sequence.md?model=0420202), [All aircraft, 225 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/193/sequence.md) - [Emergency descent: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440); cases with it: [Forney F-1, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=0420202), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Forney F-1, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=0420202), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis Shortly after takeoff, during initial climb out, the pilot noted a decrease in engine performance and that the airplane was unable to climb or maintain altitude. After unsuccessfully attempting to troubleshoot the issue, he performed a forced landing in field that was populated by solar panels. During the landing the airplane struck several of the solar panels, resulting in substantial damage to both wings and the fuselage. Postaccident examination of the engine and fuel system revealed the presence of water and other contaminates in the gascolator, carburetor bowl, carburetor inlet screen, and engine-driven fuel pump. The examination did not otherwise discover evidence of any mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. The pilot stated that while he performed his preflight inspection, which included sampling fuel from the airplane’s the header fuel tank, he historically always had difficulty with water in the fuel, specifically from the header tank and gascolator. Given this information it is likely that the partial loss of engine power the pilot experienced during the climb was due to contamination of the engine’s fuel supply with water and debris. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N3000G](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N3000G), registered now, S/N 5692, built 1959 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Ercoupe F 1 (Undesignat) - Registry model: [Forney F-1](https://openairdocs.org/model/forney-f-1) (registry code 0420202) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental C90 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-c90-series) (registry code 17009, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 5692 - Year built: 1959 - Airframe hours: 4426 - Engines: Continental C90-12F 85 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, September 10, 2019, 55 hours before - Destination: Same as departure - Airport: 08R, Richmond Airport West Kingston - Equipment: Handheld GPS, ADS-B ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 70; injuries: minor; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: basicmed, with waivers/limitations; last flight review April 24, 2019; seat: left; restraint: lap only; flight hours: 1,229 total, 287 in this make and model, 1,132 as pilot in command, 13.5 in the last 90 days, 7.9 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: variable at 10 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Temperature: 64 °F, dew point 30 °F - Altimeter: 30.47 inHg - Observed at: WST, 12 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 20200921019279A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20200921019279A), Sep 21, 2020: Forney F-1, Richmond, RI, Substantial damage. Interview with pilot follows: He had flown the aircraft the day before to bid and back. His pretakeoff checks showed no abnormalities. The engine ?is getting… ## Docket (6 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 9, 2021, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=102009. 2.5 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 1.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11497614&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=PIlots%206120%20Accident%20Report_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Record of conversation_pilot (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 21 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11487090&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation_Pilot-Rel.pdf - Record of conversation_FAA (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 21 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11487080&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation_FAA-Rel.pdf - FAA inspector's statement (item 4, PDF, 2 pages, 67 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11487100&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=FAA%20Inspectors%20Final%20Accident%20Report_Redacted-Rel.pdf - FAA airplane & engine examination summary (item 5, PDF, 2 pages, 16 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11486336&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=FAA%20Examination%20Report-Rel.pdf - Photo array_accident site and airplane damage (item 6, PDF, 6 pages, 1.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11486354&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.