# NTSB FTW02LA160: Ercoupe 415-C, N99044, Hinton, OK, May 26, 2002 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: May 26, 2002, 13:00 local (18:00 UTC) - Place: Hinton, OK - Coordinates: 35.505832, -98.342224 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.5058&lon=-98.3422&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 2 minor - Status: Completed, report December 30, 2003 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 54770 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW02LA160 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/54770/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=54770 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW02LA160 ## Probable cause Fuel exhaustion due to a fuel cap leak. A contributing factor was the lack of suitable terrain for the forced landing. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power, cruise - fluid,fuel - exhaustion (cause) - fuel system,cap - leak (cause) - Forced landing, emergency descent/landing - On ground/water collision with object, landing - roll - terrain condition - none suitable (contributing factor) - terrain condition - ditch ## Analysis During cruise flight, the pilot observed that the center fuel tank quantity gauge indicated "zero." The pilot looked at the left wing filler cap and observed fuel siphoning out of the tank. Subsequently, the engine lost power, and the pilot executed a forced landing to pasture. During the landing roll, the airplane impacted a two-foot deep four-foot wide ditch. Examination of the aircraft revealed visible evidence of fuel siphoning from the fuel filler cap to the wing trailing edge was found. The fuel cap was found secured and no anomalies were noted. ## Factual narrative On May 26, 2002, at 1300 central daylight time, an Ercoupe (Eng & Research Corp.) 415-C single-engine airplane, N99044, was substantially damaged when it impacted a ditch during a forced landing following a loss of engine power near Hinton, Oklahoma. The airplane was registered to and operated by the pilot. The private pilot sustained a serious injury and the passenger sustained minor injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and a flight plan was not filed for the 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The local flight originated from Anadarko, Oklahoma, at 1200. The 170-hour pilot reported to an FAA inspector that while in cruise flight, he noted that the center fuel tank quantity gauge indicated "zero." He then looked at the left wing fuel filler cap and observed fuel siphoning out of the tank. Subsequently, the engine lost power, and he executed a forced landing to a pasture. During the landing roll, the airplane impacted a ditch, two-foot deep and four-foot wide. An examination of the airplane by an FAA inspector revealed that the nose landing gear was separated from the aircraft, the left wing partially separated, and the right wing was bent. Visible evidence of fuel siphoning from the fuel filler cap to the wing trailing edge was found. The fuel cap was found secured and no anomalies were noted. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N99044](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N99044-2008-04-08), registration cancelled 2008-04-08, S/N 1667, built 1946 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Ercoupe (Eng & Research Corp.) 415-C - Registry model: [Ercoupe 415-C](https://openairdocs.org/model/ercoupe-415-c) (registry code 0420322) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental A&C75 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-a-c75-series) (registry code 17005, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 1667 - Airframe hours: 2495.62 - Engines: Continental C-85-12 85 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: F68, Anadarko, OK ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 54; injuries: minor; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, expired; seat: left; flight hours: 170 total ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 225° at 3 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 79 °F ## 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 20020526009739A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20020526009739A), May 26, 2002: Univar 415C, Hinton, OK, No damage. (.19) On may 26, 2002, at 1443 central daylight time, an Ercoupe (eng & research corp.) 415-C single-engine airplane, N99044, was substantially damaged when it… ## Docket (1 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on November 13, 2003, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=54770. 2.6 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 2.6 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40199578&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.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.