# NTSB FTW97LA063: Ercoupe 415-D, N87226, Amarillo, TX, December 14, 1996 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: December 14, 1996, 10:00 local (16:00 UTC) - Place: Amarillo, TX - Coordinates: 35.139408, -101.880676 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.1394&lon=-101.8807&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report April 3, 1997 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 20128 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW97LA063 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/20128/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW97LA063 ## Probable cause failure of the #1 exhaust valve, which resulted in loss of engine power and a forced landing on rough/uneven terrain. A factor relating to the accident was: the lack of suitable terrain for a forced landing. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(total) - mech failure/malf, cruise - normal - engine assembly,valve,exhaust - failure (cause) - Forced landing, emergency descent/landing - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, emergency landing - terrain condition - none suitable (contributing factor) - terrain condition - high vegetation ## Analysis According to the pilot, the engine lost power without warning as he retarded the throttle to 2,250 RPM, while leveling at 5,500 feet. The pilot attempted without success to restart the engine, and he elected to execute a forced landing to a road. Traffic conditions on the road prevented its use for a forced landing, so the pilot selected a field adjacent to the road that was covered with mesquite shrubs and clumps of bear grass. The pilot further stated that the selected field turned out to be rough and uneven. Postaccident examination of the engine revealed that the #1 exhaust valve head had separated from the valve stem, resulting in internal damage to the respective cylinder, piston, intake valve, and push rods. ## Factual narrative On December 14, 1996, at 1000 central standard time, an Ercoupe 415-D, N87226, was substantially damaged during a forced landing near Amarillo, Texas. The airplane was registered and operated by a private owner under Title 14 CFR Part 91. The private pilot and his passenger were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the personal flight for which no flight plan was filed. The flight originated from the Tradewinds Airport in Amarillo, Texas, approximately 10 minutes prior to the accident, for a flight to Dumas, Texas. The pilot was interviewed by an FAA inspector at the accident site. According to the pilot, the engine lost power without warning as he retarded the throttle to 2,250 RPM while leveling at 5,500 feet MSL. The pilot, who was seated in the right seat, attempted without success to restart the engine, and elected to execute a forced landing to a road. The traffic conditions on the road prevented the use of the road for the forced landing and the pilot elected to use a "mesquite covered field" adjacent to the road. The pilot further stated that besides being covered with mesquite trees, "the field selected turned out to be rough and uneven." The nose landing gear collapsed and both wing spars sustained structural damage during the landing roll. The owner of the airplane, who was a passenger on this flight, stated that the 1946 vintage airplane was purchased approximately 3 months earlier, after the airplane had been restored. An NTSB Form 6120.1/2 was not received from the pilot; however, a passenger statement and a comprehensive narrative were received from the owner of the aircraft. Post-accident examination of the engine by the FAA inspector revealed that the head for the exhaust valve for the #1 cylinder had separated from the valve stem resulting in internal damage to the cylinder, piston, intake valve, and both push rods. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N87226](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N87226), registered now, S/N 399, built 1946 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Ercoupe (Eng & Research Corp.) 415-D - 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: 399 - Airframe hours: 1556 - Engines: Continental C-85-12F 85 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: James Miller - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, July 9, 1996, 27 hours before - Departed: TDW - Destination: DUX, DUMAS, TX ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 44; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: right; flight hours: 540 total, 18 in this make and model, 20 in the last 90 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 360° at 5 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 59 °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 19961214039429A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19961214039429A), Dec 14, 1996: Univar 415C, Amarillo, TX, Substantial damage. Reported power loss en route. Selected road. Traffic on it. Diverted rough field. Crashed. Engine swallowed a valve (-23) pilot made forced landing in rough… 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.