# NTSB NYC01LA118: Aeronca 11AC, N9267E, Brewer, ME, May 6, 2001 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: May 6, 2001, 13:45 local (17:45 UTC) - Place: Brewer, ME - Coordinates: 44.769794, -68.729591 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=44.7698&lon=-68.7296&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report July 30, 2001 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 52215 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC01LA118 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/52215/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC01LA118 ## Probable cause The pilot's inadequate preflight preparation, which resulted in insufficient fuel in the forward tank and loss of engine power during the climb. Also causal, was the pilot's failure to maintain airspeed after the engine failure, which resulted in an inadvertent stall and impact with the ground. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, climb - fluid,fuel - inadequate - preflight planning/preparation - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - Forced landing, descent - emergency - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - emergency - airspeed - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - stall - inadvertent, pilot in command ## Analysis The pilot stated that during preflight, he saw fuel in both the forward and aft fuel tanks. He hand-propped the engine, and after startup, conducted two engine runups, then took off. During the climb, between 150 feet and 200 feet of altitude, the engine and propeller stopped running. The pilot attempted to slip the airplane back onto the grass runway; however, it stalled, then impacted the ground and spun around, about 180 degrees. The fuel system was not compromised. The forward fuel tank was empty, and the aft fuel tank contained an unknown quantity of fuel. Small amounts of fuel were also found in the gascolator and carburetor. During climbs, fuel could only be drawn from the forward tank. ## Factual narrative On May 6, 2001, at 1345 Eastern Daylight Time, an Aeronca 11AC, N9267E, was substantially damaged during a forced landing, shortly after takeoff from Brewer Airport (0B2), Brewer, Maine. The certificated private pilot received minor injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. No flight plan had been filed for the local personal flight, which was conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. In a statement, the pilot wrote that he conducted a preflight inspection of the outside of the airplane, and that he had "onboard fuel approx 2.5 hours." The pilot hand-propped the engine, and after startup, conducted two engine runups. He then took off from Runway 01. During the climb, between 150 feet and 200 feet of altitude, the engine and propeller stopped running, so the pilot force landed to the right of the runway. According to a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector, the pilot reported that just after takeoff, when the airplane was climbing through 200 feet, the engine quit, then sputtered, then quit again. The pilot attempted to slip the airplane back onto the grass runway; however, it stalled, then impacted the ground, and spun around about 180 degrees. On-scene examination of the airplane by the inspector revealed that the fuel system had not been compromised. The forward fuel tank was empty, and an aft-mounted fuel tank, which was used for level flight only, contained an unknown quantity of fuel. The inspector drained about 2 ounces of fuel from the gascolator. Nine days after the accident, the airplane was again examined, in a salvage yard. At that time, the gascolator contained about a tablespoon of fuel and numerous rust particles. The fuel line from the gascolator to the carburetor contained no fuel. The carburetor was split open, and contained 2 to 4 ounces of fuel. The forward fuel tank was empty, and the fuel cap was rusted. The rear fuel tank still contained fuel, but the quantity could not be verified. The pilot stated to another FAA inspector that he had added fuel to the rear tank 4 days earlier, and while on a 2 1/2 hour flight, had transferred fuel to the front tank. Two days before the accident, he made another flight of 1/2 hour. The pilot was adamant that before the accident flight, he looked in both fuel tanks, and saw fuel in both. The pilot held a private pilot certificate, and was rated in single engine land airplanes. He was certificated on March 31, 2001, and had 146 hours of flight time. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N9267E](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N9267E), registered now, S/N 11AC-902, built 1946 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Aeronca 11AC - Registry model: [Aeronca 11AC](https://openairdocs.org/model/aeronca-11ac) (registry code 0191102) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental A&C65 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-a-c65-series) (registry code 17003, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 11AC-902 - Airframe hours: 1170 - Engines: Lycoming O-235 115 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, September 16, 2000, 29 hours before - Departed: 0B2, Brewer, ME - Airport: 0B2, Brewer Airport, runway 01, 1,730 × 30 ft, grass/turf ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 41; injuries: minor; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review March 31, 2001; seat: left; flight hours: 147 total, 30 in this make and model, 22 in the last 90 days, 16 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: variable at 4 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 59 °F, dew point 23 °F - Altimeter: 30.51 inHg - Observed at: BGR, 4 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 20010506008929A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20010506008929A), May 6, 2001: Bbavia 11AC, Brewer, ME, Substantial damage. (-23)Aircraft was taking off from rumway 19 when at 200-250 feet the engine quit. Pilot proceeded to push the nose over and slip the aircraft. At approximately… 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.