Ercoupe (Eng & Research Corp ) 415C N94385

Summary

On 28 July 1991 at about 19:55 local time, a Ercoupe (Eng & Research Corp ) 415C registered N94385, operated by George Willard, was involved in an accident near Rubidoux, California, United States. One person was on board and one died. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

28 July 1991 at 19:55

Classification

Accident

Location

Rubidoux, California, United States

Nearest airport

Flabob (RIR)

Coordinates

33.9909, -117.4409

Aircraft

Ercoupe (Eng & Research Corp ) 415C

Registration

N94385

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

George Willard

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Other Work Use

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

LAX91FA334

1 person died.

THE MECHANIC'S IMPROPER INSTALLATION OF THE MAGNETOS AND THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN FLYING SPEED. FACTORS RELATED TO THIS ACCIDENT ARE THE PILOT'S INADVERTENT STALL AND THE RESIDENTIAL AREA.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

THE PILOT WAS DEPARTING THE AIRPORT ON A LOCAL VFR MAINTENANCE TEST FLIGHT. THE AIRPORT IS SITUATED IN A HIGHLY CONGESTED AREA WITH A TREE LINE AT THE END OF THE RUNWAY. THE AIRPLANE HAD JUST BEEN RESTORED AND THIS WAS THE FIRST FLIGHT IN 19 YEARS. WITNESSES REPORTED THAT SHORTLY AFTER LIFT-OFF THE AIRPLANE'S ENGINE BEGAN TO BACKFIRE AND THEN QUIT. THE AIRPLANE ENTERED INTO A RIGHT BANK, STALLED AND CRASHED INTO A RESIDENCE'S BACKYARD. THE INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT BOTH MAGNETO HOLD-DOWN NUTS WERE LOOSE AND THE ENGINE TIMING COULD NOT BE DETERMINED. THE LEFT MAGNETO WOULD ONLY PRODUCE SPARK IN ONE LEAD AND THE RIGHT MAGNETO WOULD NOT FIRE WHEN THEIR RESPECTIVE DRIVE WERE HAND ROTATED. THE MAGNETOS OPERATED NORMALLY WHEN TESTED WITHOUT THE ENGINE'S IGNITION HARNESS.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.