# NTSB IAD96LA099: Aeronca L-3B, N46634, Morgantown, WV, June 16, 1996 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: June 16, 1996, 12:30 local (16:30 UTC) - Place: Morgantown, WV - Location: 39.6375° N, 79.9469° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Morgantown, WV, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.6375&lon=-79.9469&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report March 31, 1998 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 28068 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=IAD96LA099 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/28068/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/IAD96LA099 ## Probable cause An inadequate maintenance/annual inspection and failure of the muffler which resulted in melted insulation on the magneto 'P' leads and subsequent loss of engine power. A related 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, takeoff - initial climb - exhaust system,muffler - failure (cause) - maintenance,annual inspection - inadequate (cause) - ignition system,magneto - shorted (cause) - Forced landing, emergency landing after takeoff - On ground/water collision with object, emergency landing after takeoff - terrain condition - none suitable (contributing factor) - object - building(nonresidential) ## Analysis The pilot stated that she had been practicing touch-and-go landings on runway 18 for about 40 minutes, when she began to smell '...something burning.' She estimated the airplane was about 100 to 200 feet agl and about one mile from the runway when she began to smell the odor. She attempted to land on runway 36, but the engine lost power completely. The pilot indicated that there wasn't enough altitude to glide to the runway, so she landed in a small field, and the airplane impacted a wood building during the landing roll. Postaccident examination revealed a hole in the muffler shroud and muffler tube, and melted insulation from both magneto 'P' leads, in the vicinity of the muffler hole. The FAA Inspector stated that after 'disconnecting the 'P' lead, the left magneto delivered normal spark to all four cylinders.' Airplane records indicate that the most recent maintenance inspection was an annual inspection, dated May 15, 1995, 13 months before the accident. The airplane had flown 7.7 hours since that inspection. ## Factual narrative On June 16, 1996, at 1230 eastern standard time, an Aeronca L-3B, N46634, experienced a loss of engine power while maneuvering after take off from the Morgantown Municipal Airport, in Morgantown, West Virginia. The pilot and the one passenger received no injuries. The airplane sustained substantial damage when it collided with a wooden building during the forced landing. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the flight, no flight plan was filed. The local flight was conducted under 14 CFR Part 91, and originated from Morgantown, West Virginia, at approximately 1100. The pilot stated that she flew to Fairmont Municipal airport in Fairmont, West Virginia, for personal reasons. The pilot stated that upon returning to Morgantown, she decided to practice touch and go landings on runway 18. She reported that after about 40 minutes of landing practice, as the airplane climbed through about 100 to 200 feet above ground level (agl) after takeoff, she began to smell something burning. She estimated that the airplane was about one mile from the runway when she began to smell the odor. The pilot reported that she turned the airplane around, and attempted to return to land on runway 36, but "...Smoke entered the cockpit, and [the] engine quit. At this point I was aimed at runway 36, but without enough altitude to glide to the runway, so I put [the] aircraft into a small field." The airplane impacted a building during the landing roll, and came to rest inverted. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Inspector stated that "the accident site was a small field with power lines at the south end and a small wooden farm building near the north end...after touchdown, the right wing struck the wooden building." The FAA inspector reported that postaccident examination of the airplane revealed "...a 7" x 3" hole in the muffler shroud and approximately the same size hole in the muffler tube... ." He stated: "Hot exhaust from the engine had damaged the spark plug leads from the right magneto and, to a lesser extent, two leads from the left magneto that were routed to the right side cylinders. Heat had melted the insulation from both magneto 'P' leads, effectively grounding both magnetos. After disconnecting the 'P' lead, the left magneto delivered normal spark to all four cylinders. The right magneto is not equipped with an impulse coupling and therefore could not be easily checked." No further mechanical anomalies were noted. Examination of the airplane records revealed that the most recent maintenance was an annual inspection, dated May 15, 1995, 13 months before the accident. Records indicated that the airplane had been flown 7.7 hours since that inspection. The airplane's total flight time was 1,798.2 hours. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N46634](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N46634), registered now, S/N 058B-12883, built 1943 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Aeronca L-3B - Registry model: [Aeronca 0-58B](https://openairdocs.org/model/aeronca-0-58b) (registry code 0191006) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental A&C65 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-a-c65-series) (registry code 17003, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 12883 - Airframe hours: 1798 - Engines: Continental A-65 65 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Charles E. Potts - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, May 15, 1995, 8 hours before - Departed: MGW, WV - Airport: MGW, Morgantown Municipal ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 30; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 1,485 total, 2 in this make and model, 1,198 as pilot in command ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 240° at 3 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: MGW ## 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 19960616013999A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19960616013999A), Jun 16, 1996: Aronca L3B, Morgantown, WV, Substantial damage. Lost power on climbout. Smoke. Unable return. Nosed over. Muffler failed exhaust melted mag pleads. No annual. 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.