ASN Wikibase Occurrence # 163422
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| Date: | Monday 20 January 2014 |
| Time: | 15:40 |
| Type: |  Ercoupe 415-C |
| Owner/operator: | Private |
| Registration: | N2076H |
| MSN: | 2699 |
| Year of manufacture: | 1946 |
| Total airframe hrs: | 1249 hours |
| Engine model: | Continental C85 SERIES |
| Fatalities: | Fatalities: 1 / Occupants: 1 |
| Aircraft damage: | Substantial |
| Category: | Accident |
| Location: | NE of Poulsbo, WA -
 United States of America
|
| Phase: | Manoeuvring (airshow, firefighting, ag.ops.) |
| Nature: | Private |
| Departure airport: | Auburn, WA (S50) |
| Auburn, WA (S50) | |
| Investigating agency: | NTSB |
| Confidence Rating: |  Accident investigation report completed and information captured |
During the approach for an attempted forced landing into a clearing, the airplane struck trees and then collided with the ground in a nose-down attitude. The pilot sustained serious injuries during the impact but was able to call 911 on his cell phone. He subsequently died from complications related to his injuries about 2 weeks later.
Postaccident examination revealed that the engine oil filler cap had not been secured. The oil filler neck and cap were intact and undamaged. Due to the engine’s design, the engine oil filler cap was located at a low point on the engine; therefore, failure to secure the cap would have resulted in a rapid expulsion of engine oil and a subsequent engine seizure. Engine examination found damage consistent with oil exhaustion and engine seizure, and the aft section of the engine compartment was coated with oil, which extended out of the cowling and onto the airplane’s belly.
The pilot was operating without a valid medical certificate; the Federal Aviation Administration had denied his medical application 3 years before the accident due to a diagnosis of myelodysplastic syndrome. Although no evidence was found indicating that this medical condition was casual to the accident, it likely contributed to the pilot’s death because it hindered his recovery from otherwise nonlife-threatening injuries.
Probable Cause: The pilot's failure to confirm that the engine oil filler cap was secured before flight, which resulted in oil exhaustion and a subsequent total loss of engine power during cruise flight.
Accident investigation:
 |
|
Sources:
NTSB
FAA register: http://registry.faa.gov/aircraftinquiry/NNum_Results.aspx?NNumbertxt=2076H
Location
Media:
Revision history:
| Date/time | Contributor | Updates |
|---|---|---|
| 21-Jan-2014 02:46 | Geno | Added |
| 21-Jan-2014 02:47 | Geno | Updated [Aircraft type] |
| 21-Jan-2014 13:03 | harro | Updated [Registration] |
| 21-Jan-2014 17:37 | Geno | Updated [Registration, Cn, Operator, Source, Embed code, Narrative] |
| 24-Jan-2014 20:44 | Geno | Updated [Nature, Destination airport, Source] |
| 21-Dec-2016 19:28 | ASN Update Bot | Updated [Time, Damage, Category, Investigating agency] |
| 29-Nov-2017 13:22 | ASN Update Bot | Updated [Total fatalities, Other fatalities, Departure airport, Destination airport, Source, Narrative] |
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