# NTSB NYC03LA028: Ercoupe 415-CD, Dalton, MA, December 4, 2002 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: December 4, 2002, 13:00 local (18:00 UTC) - Place: Dalton, MA - Coordinates: 42.433334, -73.197219 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.4333&lon=-73.1972&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report May 30, 2003 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA FSDO-03 - NTSB case key (mKey): 56160 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC03LA028 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/56160/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC03LA028 ## Probable cause The pilot's inadequate preflight inspection of the aircraft, which resulted in a total loss of engine power due to fuel contamination. A factor was the cold air temperature. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, cruise - aircraft preflight - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - fluid,fuel - contamination - weather condition - temperature,low (contributing factor) - Forced landing, descent - emergency - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, emergency landing - terrain condition - rough/uneven ## Analysis While in cruise flight, on the third and final leg of a trip, the engine lost all power. The pilot performed a forced landing to a field, and the airplane struck uneven terrain. Examination of the engine revealed a frozen liquid in the gascolator, consistent with water. The pilot reported that prior to the trip, he fueled the airplane with "an old batch" of 80/87 aviation gasoline. The airplane then remained parked in a leaky hangar for approximately 1 month. Before his initial departure, the pilot sumped both wing tanks and the engine sump, but did not observe any water. However, the pilot added that the temperature was very cold, and he believed that water in the fuel tanks had frozen and risen to the surface. During the second leg of the trip, the pilot stopped at an airport and added 5 gallons of 100LL aviation gasoline. He also sumped the tanks after that fueling, and did not observe any water. The reported temperature near the accident site was 22 degrees F. ## Factual narrative On December 4, 2002, about 1300 eastern standard time, an Ercoupe 415-CD, Canadian registry C-FXJK, was substantially damaged following a total loss of engine power during cruise flight, and a subsequent forced landing to a field in Dalton, Massachusetts. The foreign certificated pilot was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the flight that departed Floyd Bennett Memorial Airport (GFL), Glens Falls, New York; destined for Chester Airport (3B9), Chester, Connecticut. No flight plan was filed for the personal flight conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. According to a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector, the pilot reported that he had planned to fly from Canada to 3B9, to sell the airplane. The pilot initially stopped in Ogdensburg, New York, then proceeded to GFL. While at GFL, the pilot added 5 gallons of 100LL aviation gasoline to the airplane, and departed about 1200. About 1230, at 4,000 feet msl, the engine began to run rough. The pilot primed the engine while looking for a suitable landing strip. The engine eventually lost all power, and the pilot performed a forced landing to a field. During the landing, the airplane struck uneven terrain and skidded sideways. The airplane came to rest upright, but the left wing, nose gear, and fuselage were damaged. Examination of the wreckage revealed frozen fluid, consistent with water, inside the gascolator. During a subsequent telephone interview, the pilot stated that he previously topped off the airplane with "an old batch" of 80/87 aviation gasoline. The airplane then remained parked in a "leaky" hangar for approximately 1 month. Prior to his initial departure from Canada, the pilot sumped both wing tanks and the engine sump, but did not observe any water. However, the pilot added that the temperature was very cold, and he believed that water in the fuel tanks had frozen and risen to the surface. The pilot also sumped the tanks prior to departing GFL, and did not observe any water. The reported temperature at an airport approximately 5 miles west of the accident site, at 1254, was 22 degrees F. ## Aircraft - Registration: C-FXJK (not matched to a registry record) - Reported make and model: Ercoupe 415-CD - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 4666 - Airframe hours: 2400 - Engines: Continental C85-12 85 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Mark Kisilius - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, August 6, 2002, 25 hours before - Departed: GFL, Glens Falls, NY - Destination: 3B9, Chester, CT ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 46; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land, single-engine sea; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 700 total, 30 in this make and model, 700 as pilot in command, 30 in the last 90 days, 10 in the last 30 days, 10 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 290° at 10 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 21 °F, dew point 7 °F - Altimeter: 30.30 inHg - Observed at: PSF, 5 nm away 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.