# NTSB ERA24LA023: Champion 7FC, N4878E, Hawkinsville, GA, October 3, 2023 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report - Date: October 3, 2023, 18:00 local (22:00 UTC) - Place: Hawkinsville, GA - Coordinates: 32.262008, -83.496535 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.2620&lon=-83.4965&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Enroute-cruise: Fuel starvation](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191) - 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): 193315 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA24LA023 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/193315/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=193315 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA24LA023 ## Probable cause The failure of the carburetor fuel line, which resulted in fuel starvation. ## 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 · Failure (probable cause); cases with it: [Champion 7FC, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022820/cases.md?model=21101NX), [All aircraft, 141 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022820/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Enroute-cruise: Sys/Comp malf/fail (non-power)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/330); cases with it: [Champion 7FC, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/330/sequence.md?model=21101NX), [All aircraft, 994 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/330/sequence.md) - [Enroute-cruise: Fuel starvation](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191) (defining event); cases with it: [Champion 7FC, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191/sequence.md?model=21101NX), [All aircraft, 733 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191/sequence.md) - [Maneuvering: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Champion 7FC, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=21101NX), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that about halfway through the flight the engine started to lose power. Unable to regain sufficient power, the pilot made an emergency landing in a field; the airplane collided with a stump and sustained substantial damage to the fuselage. Postaccident examination of the engine revealed fuel staining on the inside of the engine cowling due to the carburetor fuel line leaking from the braided outer casing. Examination of the fuel line revealed that it was brittle and cracked on the inside, which prevented fuel from being supplied to the carburetor.Not in docket. After the fuel line was removed and replaced with a serviceable line, the engine was started and ran continuously with no anomalies noted. No entries were found in the maintenance logbooks that showing replacement of the fuel line. The last inspection entry in the engine logbook was an annual inspection dated 6 months before the accident, that noted an inspection of the fuel system. An external visual check of the fuel line alone would not have alerted the mechanic to its condition. ## Factual narrative On October 3, 2023, about 1800 eastern daylight time, a Champion 7FC, N4878E, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Hawkinsville, Georgia. The commercial pilot and passenger were not injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 91 personal flight. The pilot reported that he was en route to Eastman, Georgia, and about halfway through the flight he noticed a partial loss of engine power. He checked the instruments and attempted to regain full power, but was unsuccessful. He decided to make an emergency landing in a field but during the landing roll the airplane collided with a stump and nosed over, resulting in substantial damage to the fuselage and wings. During the postaccident examination of the airplane, it was determined the engine could undergo a test run. During the preparation for the test run, fuel staining was discovered inside the engine cowling. An attempt to start the engine revealed a leaking fuel line to the carburetor, which was found to be brittle and leaking from the braided outer casing. After replacing the faulty fuel line, the engine started and ran continuously without any issues.This information is not included in the docket. The maintenance logbooks were reviewed to find the service history on the fuel line. No entries were discovered that showed the replacement of the fuel line. The last inspection entry in the airframe logbook was an annual inspection dated April 4, 2023, that noted an inspection of the wing fuel tanks and plumbing. The fuel line did not fall under the Life Limited Part designation of 14 CFR Part 43.10, as any part for which a mandatory replacement limit is specified in the type design. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N4878E](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N4878E), registered now, S/N 7FC-316 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CHAMPION 7FC - Registry model: [Champion 7FC](https://openairdocs.org/model/champion-7fc) (registry code 21101NX) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental C90 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-c90-series) (registry code 17009, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 7FC-316 - Airframe hours: 2280 - Engines: Continental C-90-12F 90 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, April 4, 2023 - Departed: CSG, Hawkinsville, GA - Equipment: None ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 67; injuries: minor; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; seat: front; restraint: lap only; flight hours: 8,450 total, 200 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 80° at 6 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 81 °F, dew point 54 °F - Altimeter: 30.10 inHg - Observed at: EZM, 19 nm away - METAR: METAR KEZM 032215Z AUTO 08006KT 10SM CLR 27/12 A3010 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 20231003020739A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20231003020739A), Oct 3, 2023: Champion 7FC, Hawkinsville, GA, Substantial damage. Hawkinsville, GA: [privacy data omitted], Aeronca 7FC, experienced a rough running engine and executed a hard forced landing in a soy bean field. POB: 2,… ## Docket (5 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on December 18, 2024, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=193315. 266 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 3.4 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16706922&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=NTSB%206120%20LA023_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Memorandum for record - pilot interview (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 64 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16706116&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=LA023%20pilot%20MFR-Rel.pdf - Maintenance records (item 3, PDF, 8 pages, 261 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16666441&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=MX%20logbooks%20excerpts_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Engine examination summary (item 4, PDF, 4 pages, 125 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18000132&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Engine%20Examination%20LA023-Rel.pdf - Investigative photographs (item 5, PDF, 5 pages, 782 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16678008&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Investigative%20Photos%20LA023-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.