# NTSB MIA02LA021: Ercoupe 415-C, N99236, Southern Pines, NC, November 18, 2001 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: November 18, 2001, 13:24 local (18:24 UTC) - Place: Southern Pines, NC - Coordinates: 35.236946, -79.391387 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.2369&lon=-79.3914&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report February 20, 2002 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 53788 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA02LA021 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/53788/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA02LA021 ## Probable cause The dislodging of the front crankshaft oil seal for undetermined reasons resulting in loss of engine oil, loss of engine power, and collision with a tree and then the ground during a forced landing. ## Analysis The pilot stated that prior to takeoff he added 1.2 quarts of oil to fill the engine oil tank and then did a short test flight over his home airport. After the test flight he found no evidence of engine oil leakage from the engine. At 1250 he departed Parkton for Southern Pines. When about 10 miles from the Southern Pines Airport, the engine began to run rough. He continued toward the airport. The engine oil temperature began to climb and the engine oil pressure began to drop. The engine lost power and they could not make it to the airport. While making a forced landing on a golf course, the left wing collided with a tree and the airplane descended and collided with the ground. Postcrash examination of the airplane by an FAA Inspector showed the propeller had damage consistent with very slow rotational speed at ground impact. The engine cowling and bottom side of the engine had oil spray on it. The engine oil tank contained no oil. Examination of the engine by an FAA Inspector at an engine overhaul facility showed the front crankshaft seal was dislodged and allowed oil to escape from the engine at a substantial rate when the engine oil system was pressurized. No obstructions in the engine case vent system were found that would have caused over pressurization of the engine case. The reason for the dislodge crankshaft seal was not determined. ## Factual narrative On November 18, 2001, about 1324 eastern standard time, a Ercoupe 415-C, N99236, registered to an individual, collided with a tree and the ground while making a forced landing following loss of engine power near Southern Pines, North Carolina, while on a 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan was filed. The airplane received substantial damage, and the airline transport-rated pilot and 1 passenger were not injured. The flight originated from Parkton, North Carolina, the same day, about 1245. The pilot stated that prior to takeoff he added 1.2 quarts of oil to fill the engine oil tank and then did a short test flight over his home airport. After the test flight he found no evidence of engine oil leakage from the engine. At 1250, he departed Parkton for Southern Pines. When about 10 miles from the Southern Pines Airport, the engine began to run rough. He continued toward the airport. The engine oil temperature began to climb and the engine oil pressure began to drop. The engine lost power and they could not make it to the airport. While making a forced landing on a golf course, the left wing collided with a tree and the airplane descended and collided with the ground. Postcrash examination of the airplane by an FAA Inspector showed the propeller had damage consistent with very slow rotational speed at ground impact. The engine cowling and bottom side of the engine had oil spray on it. The engine oil tank contained no oil. Examination of the engine by an FAA Inspector at an engine overhaul facility showed the front crankshaft seal was dislodged and allowed oil to escape from the engine at a substantial rate when the engine oil system was pressurized. No obstructions in the engine case vent system were found that would have caused over pressurization of the engine case. The reason for the dislodge crankshaft seal was not determined. (See FAA Inspector Statements.) ## 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, cruise - normal - lubricating system,oil seal - loss,partial - reason for occurrence undetermined (cause) - fluid,oil - exhaustion - Forced landing, emergency descent/landing - In flight collision with object, emergency descent/landing - object - tree(s) - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled ## Aircraft - Registration: [N99236](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N99236-2004-01-08), registration cancelled 2004-01-08, S/N 1859, 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 C85 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-c85-series) (registry code 17008, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 1859 - Airframe hours: 2826 - Engines: Continental C-85-12 85 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: William K. Johnson - Registered owner: Benjamin E. Lefever - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, May 1, 2001, 63 hours before - Departed: 35W, Parkton, NC - Destination: SOP, Sothern Pines, NC ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 60; injuries: none; airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: helicopter, airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review August 20, 2000; seat: left; flight hours: 5,216 total, 63 in this make and model, 4,263 as pilot in command, 3 in the last 90 days, 1 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 50° at 4 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 63 °F, dew point 43 °F - Altimeter: 30.36 inHg - Observed at: SOP, 3 nm away ## 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 20011118031449A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20011118031449A), Nov 18, 2001: Univar 415C, Southern Pines, NC, No damage. (-23) Pilot noticed rough running engine, rise in oil temperature and a decrease in oil pressure. During emergency landing, the pilot clipped a tree and landed… ## Other investigations on N99236 (2) 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 FTW00LA213](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW00LA213), Jul 14, 2000: Ercoupe 415-C (N99236), Stephenville, TX, substantial damage. Probable cause: The collision with a bird while in cruise flight. - [NTSB NYC87LA224](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC87LA224), Aug 9, 1987: Ercoupe 415-C (N99236), York, PA, 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.