# NTSB SEA01LA040: Ercoupe 415G, N94432, Santiam, OR, January 20, 2001 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: January 20, 2001, 14:30 local (22:30 UTC) - Place: Santiam, OR - Coordinates: 44.41053, -121.920158 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=44.4105&lon=-121.9202&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report July 30, 2001 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Portland FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 51362 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA01LA040 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/51362/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA01LA040 ## Probable cause The partial blockage of the carburetor main metering jet orifice by contamination of undetermined origin. Factors include a snow-covered runway upon which the pilot executed a forced landing. ## Analysis While en route at cruise power, the aircraft's engine began to lose power. Soon thereafter the engine slowed to idle rpm, and the pilot elected to make an emergency landing at a nearby snow-covered Oregon State Airport. Although the touchdown was successful, during the landing roll, the aircraft nosed over in the two-foot deep snow. A post-accident carburetor teardown revealed that the orifice to the main metering jet was partially plugged by a putty-like contaminant. ## Factual narrative On January 20, 2001, approximately 1430 Pacific standard time, an Ercoupe 415G, N94432, nosed over in the snow during a forced landing at Santiam Junction State Airport, Santiam, Oregon. The private pilot, who was the sole occupant, was not injured, but the aircraft, which was owned and operated by the pilot, sustained substantial damage. The 14 CFR Part 91 personal pleasure flight, which was en route to Prineville, Oregon, in visual meteorological conditions, departed Independence, Oregon, about 55 minutes earlier. No flight plan had been filed. The ELT, which was activated by the accident sequence, was turned off at the scene. According to the pilot, just after he passed Santiam Junction Airport, the aircraft's engine began to lose power. He therefore applied carburetor heat and turned back toward the airport. Soon thereafter, the engine went to idle RPM, and the pilot elected to execute a forced landing on runway 06 at the Santiam Junction Airport. Although the touchdown was successful, as the aircraft slowed, it nosed over in the snow that had accumulated on the runway surface. According to the pilot, the snow was approximately two feet deep. During a post-accident engine examination, the carburetor was disassembled, and it was discovered that the orifice to the main metering jet was almost completely plugged by ball of putty-like contaminant. No similar material was found anywhere else in or on the carburetor, and it could not be determined when or how the contamination had entered the carburetor bowl. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, cruise - fuel system,carburetor - blocked(partial) (cause) - fuel system,carburetor - contamination,other than water (cause) - Forced landing, descent - emergency - Nose over, landing - roll - terrain condition - snow covered (contributing factor) ## Aircraft - Registration: [N94432](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N94432), registered now, S/N 5078, built 1950 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Ercoupe 415G - Registry model: [Engineering & Research 415-G](https://openairdocs.org/model/engineering-research-415-g) (registry code 0420310) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental C85 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-c85-series) (registry code 17008, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 5078 - Airframe hours: 1898 - Engines: Continental C-85-12 85 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, September 10, 2000, 31 hours before - Departed: 7S5, Independence, OR - Destination: S39, Prineville, OR - Airport: 8S3, Santiam Junction State Airport, runway 06, 3,100 × 150 ft, grass/turf ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 29; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review July 2, 1999; seat: left; flight hours: 180 total, 167 in this make and model, 150 as pilot in command, 34 in the last 90 days, 13 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Visibility: 15 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 14,000 ft overcast - Temperature: 39 °F ## 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 20010120001379A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20010120001379A), Jan 20, 2001: Univar 415G, Santiam Junctio, No damage. (-23) Mr. Harrison was flying from independence, OR. To prineville, OR. After leaving independence he was flying near hoodo ski area at 7000' MSL when the… 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.