# NTSB LAX03LA260: Ercoupe 415-C, N3182H, Saint Johns, AZ, August 22, 2003 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 22, 2003, 06:30 local (13:30 UTC) - Place: Saint Johns, AZ - Coordinates: 34.516666, -109.366668 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.5167&lon=-109.3667&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report December 28, 2004 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration Scottsdale FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 57772 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX03LA260 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/57772/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX03LA260 ## Probable cause The failure of the exhaust valve on the number two engine cylinder, which resulted in a partial loss of engine power during the final approach to land, and an on ground collision with a ditch during the subsequent off-airport landing roll. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(partial) - mech failure/malf, approach - vfr pattern - base leg/base to final - engine assembly,valve,exhaust - failure,total (cause) - Forced landing, emergency landing - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - roll - terrain condition - ditch ## Analysis The airplane lost engine power and collided with a ditch while executing a forced landing to a dirt road. Just before the pilot turned on to an extended final approach to the runway, the "engine started hammering." The pilot was not able to increase the engine power enough to maintain level flight. He landed on a dirt road one and a half miles east of the airport. Upon landing, the airplane veered off a curve in the road into a drainage ditch, collapsing the nose gear. The airplane then nosed over on the other side of the ditch. Examination of the engine revealed a failed exhaust valve on the number two cylinder. ## Factual narrative On August 22, 2003, at 0630 mountain standard time, an Ercoupe 415-C, N3182H, collided with a drainage ditch during a forced landing following a loss of engine power near Saint Johns, Arizona. The student pilot/owner was operating the airplane under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91. The pilot was not injured, and the airplane sustained substantial damaged. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed. The local flight originated at Saint Johns Industrial Airpark about 0545. The pilot reported to the National Transportation Safety Board investigator-in-charge (IIC) that he had been flying south east of Saint Johns Industrial Airpark, and was approaching runway 32 for landing. Just before he turned onto an extended final approach the "engine started hammering." The pilot was not able to increase the engine power enough to maintain level flight. He executed a forced landing on a dirt road one and half miles east of the airport. Upon landing, the airplane veered off a curve in the road into a drainage ditch, which collapsed the nose gear. The airplane then nosed over on the other side of the ditch. Engine data The Teledyne Continental C-75-12 engine received its last annual inspection on November 7, 2002. The number 1 cylinder assembly had been replaced on January 18, 2003. The engine logbook records that on January 18, 2003, the time since overhaul was 899.39 hours, and the total engine time was 2,538.38 hours. The date of the last engine overhaul was July 20, 1967. The airplane had a Federal Aviation Administration Supplemental Type Certificate (SE634GL) approving the use of unleaded automotive gasoline. A Teledyne Continental Service Information Letter, SIL98-9A, specifies the recommended time between engine overhauls. For the C75 engine, it listed the time between overhaul (TBO) as 1,800 hours or 12 years, which ever occurred first. Engine Examination A Federal Aviation Administration inspector examined the airplane's engine and reported that the exhaust valve on the number two cylinder had separated at the stem. The spark plug on the number four cylinder was loose. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N3182H](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N3182H-2016-12-27), registration cancelled 2016-12-27, S/N 3807, built 1946 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Ercoupe 415-C - 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: 3807 - Airframe hours: 2659.4 - Engines: Continental C-75-12 85 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Robert Greenwade - Registered owner: John B Richardson - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, November 7, 2002, 103.8 hours before - Departed: SJN, Saint Johns, AZ - Destination: SJN - Airport: KSJN, St Johns Airport, runway 32, 5,323 × 75 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 45; injuries: none; student; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 25 total, 23 in this make and model, 14 as pilot in command, 16 in the last 90 days, 11 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 160° at 4 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 66 °F, dew point 59 °F - Altimeter: 30.26 inHg - Observed at: KSJN ## 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 20030822020769A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20030822020769A), Aug 22, 2003: Univar 415C, St. Johns, AZ, Substantial damage. (-23) The pilot/owner was flying alone and had made several t.o./landings @ sjn prior to having an engine failure (loss of power) on a return portion of his… 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.