# NTSB ERA22LA242: Aeronca 7EC, N7410B, Putnam Valley, NY, May 25, 2022 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report - Date: May 25, 2022, 16:00 local (20:00 UTC) - Place: Putnam Valley, NY - Coordinates: 43.799599, -73.399587 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.7996&lon=-73.3996&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Enroute: Fuel starvation](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191) - 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 - NTSB case key (mKey): 105139 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA22LA242 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/105139/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=105139 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA22LA242 ## Probable cause A total loss of engine power during cruise flight due to fuel starvation resulting from obstructed forward and aft vent outlets in the left fuel tank. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Fuel system: fuel distribution](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022820): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Inoperative (probable cause); cases with it: [Aeronca 7EC, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022820/cases.md?model=2110120), [All aircraft, 141 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022820/cases.md) - [Maintenance/inspections](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01010500): Aircraft › Aircraft handling/service · Not serviced/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Aeronca 7EC, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01010500/cases.md?model=2110120), [All aircraft, 103 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01010500/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Enroute: Fuel starvation](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191) (defining event); cases with it: [Aeronca 7EC, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191/sequence.md?model=2110120), [All aircraft, 733 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191/sequence.md) - [Enroute: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440); cases with it: [Aeronca 7EC, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=2110120), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md) - [Emergency descent: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Aeronca 7EC, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=2110120), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot had just purchased the airplane and was flying it to a maintenance facility in a neighboring state for an annual inspection. During the flight, the engine started to backfire and lose power. The pilot attempted remedial action to restore engine power; however, he was unable to regain power to the engine, and elected to execute a forced landing to a field. During the forced landing the airplane impacted a power line. Postaccident examination of the airplane revealed no anomalies with the engine that would have precluded normal operation. About 9 gallons of fuel were drained from the left tank and about 1.5 gallons were drained from the right tank, although the two fuel tanks fed a common fuel manifold above the fuel shutoff valve. When the left and right fuel tanks were pressurized, the right wing forward and aft vent outlets were free from obstruction; however, the right tank vent interconnect was obstructed and the left tank forward and aft outlets were completely obstructed. It is likely that the engine was starved of fuel due to the fuel vent obstructions, which resulted in a restriction of fuel flow. ## Factual narrative On May 25, 2022, about 1600 eastern daylight time, an Aeronca 7EC, N7410B, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Putnam Station, New York. The pilot was not injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 ferry flight. The pilot reported that he had just purchased the airplane and was flying it from Saratoga Springs, New York, to Northern Lights Airport (VT46), Alburg, Vermont, for an annual inspection. During the flight, the mixture control kept “creeping out” and the pilot pushed it back in 2-3 times. The last time the mixture control moved aft, he “pushed it a little stronger,” and afterwards noted that he could no longer enrich the fuel. The engine started to backfire, “cut out,” and was losing power. Unable to regain power to the engine, he elected to execute a forced landing to a field, during which the airplane impacted a power line. Examination of the airplane by a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector revealed substantial damage to the structural tubing that connects to the firewall. The inspector’s review of the aircraft maintenance logbooks revealed that the airplane’s most recent annual inspection was in 2007. The engine and its accessories were examined under the supervision of an FAA inspector after the airplane was recovered to a hangar. The throttle and mixture controls functioned normally. The spark plugs were removed and visually examined with no anomalies noted other than postimpact oil fouling. Both magnetos were tested and produced spark at all towers. Fuel was present throughout the fuel system, including the gascolator and carburetor float bowl. About 9 gallons of fuel were drained from the left tank and about 1.5 gallons were drained from the right tank. Both wing fuel caps were tested and found to vent properly. When the left and right fuel tanks were pressurized, the right wing forward and aft vent outlets were free from obstruction; however, the right tank vent interconnect and the left tank forward and aft outlets were completely obstructed. Both fuel tanks fed into a common fuel manifold above the fuel shutoff valve. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N7410B](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N7410B-2024-03-16), registration cancelled 2024-03-16, S/N 7EC-442 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: AERONCA 7EC - Registry model: [Aeronca 7EC](https://openairdocs.org/model/aeronca-7ec) (registry code 2110120) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental C90 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-c90-series) (registry code 17009, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 7EC-442 - Year built: 1958 - Airframe hours: 2613 - Engines: Lycoming O-235 115 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Ferry, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, July 25, 2007, 2,597 hours before - Departed: 5B2, Saratoga Springs, NY - Destination: VT46, Alburg, VT - Equipment: Unknown ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 75; injuries: none; commercial, recreational; airplane ratings: single-engine land, single-engine sea, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: basicmed; last flight review March 1, 2022; seat: front; flight hours: 3,000 total, 200 in this make and model, 50 in the last 90 days, 8 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 270° at 6 knots - Visibility: 6 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 72 °F, dew point 46 °F - Altimeter: 30.30 inHg - Observed at: RUT, 25 nm away - METAR: KRUT 251956Z AUTO 27006KT 6SM HZ CLR 22/08 A3030 RMK AO2 SLP256 T02220083 $ ## 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 20220525009339A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20220525009339A), May 25, 2022: Aeronca 7EC, Putnam, NY, Substantial damage. Aeronca champ [privacy data omitted] was involved in an accident on may 25, 2022; one person on board and one canine on board, no injuries reported. After… ## Other investigations on N7410B (1) 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 OAK72FVD24](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/OAK72FVD24), Oct 8, 1971: Aeronca 7EC (N7410B), Sonoma, CA, substantial damage ## Docket (7 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 25, 2023, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=105139. 258 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 7 pages, 1.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14295210&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=ERA22LA242%206120%20Signed_Redacted-Rel.pdf - NTSB memo for record - pilot interview (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 177 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14294717&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation%20Pilot_Redacted-Rel.pdf - NTSB memo for record - FAA inspector (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 173 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14296490&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation%20FAA%20Inspector-Rel.pdf - Maintenance records (item 4, PDF, 5 pages, 254 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14294812&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Maintenance%20Log%20Excerpts_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Photos (item 5, PDF, 6 pages, 1.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14297119&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=ERA22LA242%20Photo%20Array-Rel.pdf - Memo for record - wreckage examination (item 6, PDF, 2 pages, 96 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14296858&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=N7410B%20Examination%20Notes-Rel.pdf - Release of aircraft wreckage, NTSB form 6120.15 (item 7, PDF, 2 pages, 377 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14295309&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Signed%20Wreckage%20Release_Redacted-CF-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.