Aeronca 7DC N83391

Summary

On 13 July 2023 at about 00:20 local time, a Aeronca 7DC registered N83391 was involved in an accident near Ninilchik, Alaska, United States. 2 people were on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

13 July 2023 at 00:20

Classification

Accident

Location

Ninilchik, Alaska, United States

Nearest airport

Soldotna (PASX)

Coordinates

60.0372, -151.6366

Aircraft

Aeronca 7DC

Registration

N83391

Category

Airplane

Year built

1946

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Homer → Soldotna

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ANC23LA053

Nobody was injured.

A total loss of engine power due to a shift of a crankshaft main bearing, which resulted in a lack of lubrication and subsequent overheating and failure of the engine crankshaft.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

While en route during a scenic flight, the pilot noticed the engine was not making enough power for the set power setting and the oil pressure and oil temperature gauges both indicated zero. He started a climb to clear rising terrain when the engine started to vibrate violently and then the engine lost all power. The pilot made a forced landing on to a road and, after touching down, veered to avoid traffic. The airplane impacted a guardrail and nosed over, sustaining substantial damage to the fuselage and wings. A postaccident examination of the engine revealed that the crankshaft’s No. 1 main bearing had spun, smearing metal into the crankcase and blocking the oil port. Numerous fragments of bearing material were found inside the engine. Based on the available information, it is likely that the shift of the No. 1 main bearing resulted in a lack of lubrication and subsequent failure of the engine. The reason for the bearing shift was not determined; the owner was not able to provide maintenance records for the engine.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.