- Date
- August 16, 1982, 10:15 local (14:15 UTC)
- Place
- Gardner, MA
- Injuries
- 2 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Enroute
- Aircraft
- N3366HErcoupe 415C
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report August 16, 1983
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19820816067049A
- Case key
- 70809
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
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.
Loss of engine power
Reason for occurrence undeterminedCause
Forced landing
Engine accessories,engine starter - overloadFactor
Starting procedure - improperFactor
Nose gear collapsed
Landing gear,nose gear - overload
Analysis
The engine lost power during flight and the pilot engaged the starter with the prop windmilling. The starter gear was found shattered and the starter gear teeth were scattered through various parts of the engine. No reason was found for the original engine power loss. During a forced landing, the nose gear collapsed.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N3366H
- Reported as
- Ercoupe 415C
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 3991
- Airframe hours
- 1,708
- Engine
- Continental C-85, 85 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Jack Bussiere
- Registered owner
- Jack Bussiere
- Departed
- Gardner, MA
- Destination
- Gardner, MA
- Airport
- Gardner Municipal
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 33
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Flight hours
- 211 total · 42 in this make and model · 179 as pilot in command · 10 in the last 90 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Visibility
- 30 statute miles
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.