# NTSB MIA00LA220: Aeronca 65-TC, N29416, Harris, NC, July 12, 2000 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 12, 2000, 12:30 local (16:30 UTC) - Place: Harris, NC - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report July 2, 2001 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 49734 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA00LA220 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/49734/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA00LA220 ## Probable cause The unsuitable terrain encountered by the pilot while descending for a forced landing. Contributing to the accident was the partial loss of engine power due a blocked fuel line resulting in fuel starvation. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power, takeoff - initial climb - fuel system,line - blocked(partial) (contributing factor) - fluid,fuel - starvation (contributing factor) - In flight collision with object, emergency descent/landing - object - wire,static - unsuitable terrain or takeoff/landing/taxi area - encountered, pilot in command (cause) - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled - terrain condition - high vegetation ## Analysis The pilot flew to a nearby airport, landed, remained on the ground with the engine running, then elected to depart. During the initial climb about 50-100 feet agl, the engine experienced a loss of power. Unable to maintain altitude he maneuvered towards a sandbar in a river and while descending to fly beneath a trestle bridge that was between his location and the sandbar, the airplane collided with a wire beneath the bridge. The airplane veered to the right, descended and impacted with 'scrub trees/saplings' on a side of the river. Examination of the airplane revealed 'rust' from a fuel line between the header tank and the fuel shut-off valve. Removal of the rust revealed an increase in fuel flow to the carburetor. Cold differential compression testing of each cylinder revealed no cylinder was greater than 52 psi when using 80 psi as a reference. The last annual inspection occurred on February 3, 2000; the airplane had accumulated approximately 20 hours since then. No inspections were recorded between a periodic inspection on June 8, 1963, and an annual inspection December 12, 1994. The December 1994 entry indicates, 'Assembled aircraft after long term storage....' No record of fuel lines was noted. ## Factual narrative On July 12, 2000, about 1230 eastern daylight time, a Aeronca 65-TC, N29419, registered to a private owner, collided with a wire then the ground while descending for a forced landing shortly after takeoff from the Boomerang Airport, Harris, North Carolina. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan was filed for the 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight. The airplane was substantially damaged and the private-rated pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured. The flight originated about 1 minute earlier. The airplane was fueled with automotive fuel before takeoff from the Big Oaks Airport, and flew and landed at the Boomerang Airport. After landing, the pilot left the engine running then elected to depart. During the initial climb about 50-100 feet above ground level, the engine experienced a loss of power; insufficient power remained to sustain flight. He initiated a shallow right bank and after realizing he was unable to return to the airport, he turned towards a nearby river for a forced landing on a sandbar. While descending to fly beneath a trestle bridge that was between his location and the sandbar, the airplane collided with a wire beneath the bridge. The airplane veered to the right, descended and impacted with "scrub trees/saplings" on a side of the river. The airplane was recovered. Postaccident, the airplane was inspected by a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) certificated mechanic with inspection authorization (IA). Fuel flow testing was performed which revealed that with fuel supplied to the fuel tank and the flexible fuel line removed from the carburetor inlet, it took approximately 14 minutes to fill a gallon container. Continued testing revealed "rust" exited a hard aluminum fuel line between the outlet of the "header" tank to the inlet of the fuel shut-off valve. The lines were cleared and flow testing revealed it took approximately 2 minutes 4 seconds to fill a gallon container. Additionally, cold differential compression testing of each cylinder revealed no cylinder was greater than 52 psi when using 80 psi as a reference. A copy of the statement from the IA is an attachment to this report. The airplane was inspected last in accordance with an annual inspection on February 3, 2000; the pilot indicated that the airplane had accumulated approximately 20 hours since then at the time of the accident. No inspections were recorded between a periodic inspection on June 8, 1963, and an annual inspection December 12, 1994. The December 1994 entry indicates, "Assembled aircraft after long term storage...." There was no record of any fuel lines being replaced. Copies of maintenance records are an attachment to this report. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N29416](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N29416), registered now, S/N 3080T, built 1940 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Aeronca 65-TC - Registry model: [Aeronca 65-TC](https://openairdocs.org/model/aeronca-65-tc) (registry code 0190902) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental A&C65 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-a-c65-series) (registry code 17003, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: L3080T - Airframe hours: 2894 - Engines: Continental A-65-8 65 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Thomas K. Buchanan, III - Registered owner: Kenneth C. Trager - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, February 3, 2000, 20 hours before - Departed: NC02, NC - Destination: 8NC2, CAROLEEN, NC - Airport: NC02, Boomerang Airport ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 18; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: rear; flight hours: 700 total, 14 in this make and model, 450 as pilot in command, 30 in the last 90 days, 10 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 250° at 5 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 3,400 ft broken - Temperature: 81 °F, dew point 72 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: FQD ## 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 20000712007979A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20000712007979A), Jul 12, 2000: Aronca 65TC, Harris, NC, No damage. (-23) Airplane departed NC 02 (boomerand). Aircraft lost power, and landed on trees near a creek. Aircraft had rust particles in fuel. ## Other investigations on N29416 (1) 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. - [NTSB UNK64X0366](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/UNK64X0366), Jan 26, 1964: Aeronca 65 (N29416), Milwaukee, WI, substantial damage 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.