Ercoupe 415-D N99746

Summary

On 24 August 2005 at about 17:30 local time, a Ercoupe 415-D registered N99746 was involved in an accident near Sandy Lake, Pennsylvania, United States. 2 people were on board and one was seriously injured, one had minor injuries. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

24 August 2005 at 17:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Sandy Lake, Pennsylvania, United States

Coordinates

41.3481, -80.0792

Aircraft

Ercoupe 415-D

Registration

N99746

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Monongahela → Meadville

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

NYC05LA137

1 person was seriously injured.

A total failure of the engine driven fuel pump, and the pilot's failure to recognize a diminishing fuel supply in the fuselage (header) fuel tank, which resulted in a total loss of engine power during cruise flight and subsequent collision with trees during a forced landing.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

The airplane experienced a total loss of engine power during cruise flight, and struck a tree during a forced landing. After the accident, the passenger reported the engine driven fuel pump failed. Review of a flight manual for the make and model airplane revealed that a fuel gauge was incorporated into the fuselage (header) fuel tank cap. Fuel flowed from the wing tanks, via the engine driven fuel pump, to the fuselage tank. Once in the fuselage tank, fuel was gravity fed into the engine. Further review of the manual revealed that in case of engine driven fuel pump failure, the engine would continue to function until the 6-gallon fuselage tank was drained. During an examination of the wreckage, the fuselage tank was observed to be empty, except for some residual fuel. The fuel was clear, consistent with 100LL aviation gasoline, and no contamination was observed. The engine driven fuel pump was removed from the engine for inspection. When the pump was actuated by hand, there was no movement or continuity to its mechanical linkage that connected into the engine. The inoperative pump was re-attached to the engine to prevent oil leakage, and 5 gallons of gasoline was added to the fuselage tank. The engine then started on the first attempt, without hesitation, and ran continuously at idle power and partial power.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.