- Date
- May 10, 2001, 17:30 local (21:30 UTC)
- Place
- Monson, ME
- Injuries
- 1 minor
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Initial climb
- Aircraft
- N4737EChampion 7EC
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report November 6, 2001
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- Parties
- FAA FSDO-05
- FAA report
- 20010510035129A
- Case key
- 52240
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The pilot's inadequate aircraft preflight inspection, which resulted in a total loss of engine power during climb due to fuel contamination.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
Prior to the accident flight, the floatplane was in storage during the winter season. The pilot stated that during the preflight inspection, he check the fuel and oil quantity. However, he did not examine any fuel samples for contamination. The pilot started the engine, let it idle for approximately 10 minutes, and then departed the pond. During the climb, the engine lost all power, and the pilot performed a forced landing into trees. Examination of the wreckage by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed approximately 2 tablespoons of visible contamination in the gascolator.
Factual narrative
On May 10, 2001, about 1730 eastern daylight time, a Champion 7EC, N4737E, was substantially damaged during a forced landing near Monson, Maine. The certificated student pilot sustained minor injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed for the local personal flight conducted under 14 CFR Part 91.
The airplane was equipped with floats. The student pilot stated that during the preflight inspection, he checked the fuel and oil quantity. However, he did not examine any fuel samples for contamination. The student pilot started the engine, and let it idle for approximately 10 minutes. He then circled Monson Pond twice and tookoff about 1730. During the climb, the engine lost all power, and he performed a forced landing into trees. During the impact, both wings folded aft, and the floats separated.
A Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector examined the wreckage. He stated that the accident flight was the first flight after winter. During the examination, the inspector observed approximately 2 tablespoons of "watery sludge" in the gascolator.
The inspector added that the pilot held his student certificate for several years, but had no current endorsements from a flight instructor.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N4737E
- Reported as
- Champion 7EC
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 7EC-82
- Airframe hours
- 2,375
- Engine
- Continental C-90-12F, 90 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Lloyd G. Kelley
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · November 10, 2000 · 10 hours before
- Departed
- NONE · Monson, ME
- Airport
- NONE · Monson Pond
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 78
- Injuries
- Minor
- Certificate
- Student
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Seat
- Front
- Flight hours
- 275 total · 250 in this make and model · 275 as pilot in command · 1 in the last 90 days · 1 in the last 30 days · 0 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 80° at 8 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 77 °F, dew point 48 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.82 inHg
- Observed at
- BGR, 25 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.