Accident Ercoupe 415C N41886, Monday 23 May 1988

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Date:	Monday 23 May 1988
Time:	21:27 LT
Type:	Ercoupe 415C
Owner/operator:	Private
Registration:	N41886
MSN:	116
Total airframe hrs:	2323 hours
Engine model:	Continental C-85-12F
Fatalities:	Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 1
Other fatalities:	0
Aircraft damage:	Substantial
Category:	Accident
Location:	Whiteville, NC - United States of America
Phase:	En route
Nature:	Private
Departure airport:	Ocean Isle Bch, NC (60J
Destination airport:	Whiteville, NC (KCPC)
Investigating agency:	NTSB
Confidence Rating:	Accident investigation report completed and information captured

Narrative:
THE STUDENT PLT REPORTED THAT THE ENGINE BEGAN TO SKIP AND LOSE PWR ABOUT 20 MINUTES AFTER DEPARTURE. THE ENGINE SUBSEQUENTLY LOST ALL PWR AND THE STUDENT MADE A FORCED LDG IN A PLOWED FIELD. THE AIRPLANE NOSED OVER DURING THE LDG. POST-CRASH EXAM OF THE AIRPLANE REVEALED THE PRESENCE OF ABOUT 2 OZ OF WATER IN THE FUEL STRAINER. IN ADDITION, BITS OF METAL WERE FOUND IN THE CARBURETOR IN THE MAIN METERING JET PASSAGEWAY. THE SOURCE OF THE METAL BITS COULD NOT BE DETERMINED. THE METAL BITS WERE TOO LARGE TOO HAVE PASSED THROUGH THE FUEL STRAINER OR THE CARB FILTER SCREEN. THE AIRPLANE WAS FUELED W/ AUTO GAS WHICH WAS OBTAINED AT THE DEPARTURE ARPT. THE USE OF AUTOGAS IN THE AIRPLANE WAS STC-APPROVED. THE AIRPLANE HAD BEEN OPERATED APPROX 123 HRS SINCE THE LAST ANNUAL INSPECTION, 7 MONTHS BEFORE THE ACCIDENT.

Probable Cause:

Accident investigation: