# NTSB ERA21LA062: Ercoupe 415, N2674H, South Boston, VA, December 6, 2020 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report - Date: December 6, 2020, 16:18 local (21:18 UTC) - Place: South Boston, VA · Highway 501 & Halifax Road - Coordinates: 36.6987, -78.9014 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.6987&lon=-78.9014&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Enroute: Sys/Comp malf/fail (non-power)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/330) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 3 - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 102381 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA21LA062 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/102381/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=102381 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA21LA062 ## Probable cause The improper installation of a fuel filter screen cover gasket, which resulted in its failure, fuel starvation, and a subsequent total loss of engine power during cruise flight. Contributing to the accident was the unapproved fuel sight gauge, which obscured the pilot’s view of the fuel level in the fuel header tank. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Fuel system: fuel pumps](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022822): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Failure (probable cause); cases with it: [Engineering & Research ERCOUPE 415-C, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022822/cases.md?model=0420312), [All aircraft, 71 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022822/cases.md) - [Fuel system: fuel quantity indicator](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022841): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Not specified (probable cause); cases with it: [Engineering & Research ERCOUPE 415-C, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022841/cases.md?model=0420312), [All aircraft, 35 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022841/cases.md) - [Maintenance: replacement](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02062020): Personnel issues › Task performance · Maintenance personnel (probable cause); cases with it: [Engineering & Research ERCOUPE 415-C, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02062020/cases.md?model=0420312), [All aircraft, 70 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02062020/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Prior to flight: Aircraft maintenance event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/040); cases with it: [Engineering & Research ERCOUPE 415-C, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/040/sequence.md?model=0420312), [All aircraft, 484 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/040/sequence.md) - [Enroute: Fuel starvation](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191); cases with it: [Engineering & Research ERCOUPE 415-C, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191/sequence.md?model=0420312), [All aircraft, 733 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191/sequence.md) - [Enroute: Sys/Comp malf/fail (non-power)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/330) (defining event); cases with it: [Engineering & Research ERCOUPE 415-C, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/330/sequence.md?model=0420312), [All aircraft, 994 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/330/sequence.md) - [Emergency descent: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440); cases with it: [Engineering & Research ERCOUPE 415-C, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=0420312), [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: [Engineering & Research ERCOUPE 415-C, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=0420312), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis During cruise flight, the engine lost total power and the pilot performed a forced landing to a road, during which the right wing sustained substantial damage. Subsequent examination of the engine revealed the failure of a fuel filter screen cover gasket from the fuel transfer pump, which transferred fuel from the wings to the header fuel tank. The failure allowed the fuel transfer pump to draw in air rather than fuel. Given this information, it is likely the engine consumed all the fuel in the fuel header tank, and the fuel was not replaced with fuel in the wings due to the transfer pump anomaly. When the failed gasket was replaced with a new gasket, the engine started normally, and the fuel transfer pump operated normally. Further examination of the failed gasket revealed that the gasket was damaged, likely during installation at the most recent annual inspection about 4 months before the accident. Additionally, the sight gauge for the fuel header tank was cloudy and was an unapproved part, which obscured viewing of the fuel level in the fuel header tank and likely prevented the pilot from recognizing that the fuel was not transferring properly from the wing tanks. ## Factual narrative On December 6, 2020, about 1618 eastern daylight time, an Ercoupe 415-C, N2674H, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near South Boston, Virginia. The private pilot was not injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The pilot reported that the airplane had 25 gallons of fuel onboard when he departed on the accident flight. The pilot performed three takeoffs and landings, followed by a local sightseeing flight northeast of his home airport. About 45 minutes into the flight, the engine lost partial power. The pilot applied carburetor heat and used the primer to try and inject fuel into the engine; however, the engine eventually lost all power. The pilot subsequently performed a forced landing to a road, during which the airplane impacted a mailbox, resulting in substantial damage to the right wing. Following the accident, a mechanic examined the engine and noted that a fuel filter screen cover gasket from the fuel transfer pump that transferred fuel from the wings to the header fuel tank, had failed. The failed gasket would allow the fuel transfer pump to draw in air rather than fuel. The mechanic added that, when he replaced the failed gasket, the engine started normally, and the fuel transfer pump operated normally. Examination of the failed gasket by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed that the gasket was damaged, possibly during installation. The inspector added that the gasket was an approved cork gasket. He further stated that the sight gauge for the fuel header tank was cloudy and an unapproved part. The failed gasket was installed on August 1, 2020, at the most recent annual inspection. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N2674H](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N2674H), registered now, S/N 3299, built 1946 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: 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: 3299 - Year built: 1946 - Airframe hours: 1474 - Engines: Continental C-85-12F 85 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, August 1, 2020 ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 51; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: sport pilot; last flight review November 29, 2020; seat: left; restraint: lap only; flight hours: 82 total, 2 in this make and model, 60 as pilot in command, 2 in the last 90 days, 2 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Dusk - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 52 °F, dew point 25 °F - Altimeter: 29.92 inHg - Observed at: W78, 3 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 20201206017189A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20201206017189A), Dec 6, 2020: Engineering & Research ERCOUPE 415-C, South Boston, VA, Substantial damage. The pilot noticed his float type fuel gauge (mounted on the aircraft nose) was showing about half a tank. This was indicating the center tank fuel level, not… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on September 28, 2022, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=102381. 3.4 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 2.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11842946&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Interview summary (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 120 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11842689&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Interview%20Summary-Rel.pdf - Photo array (item 3, PDF, 5 pages, 1.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11842386&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%20Array-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.