Ercoupe (Eng & Research Corp ) 415-D N89331

Summary

On 28 September 1995 at about 14:30 local time, a Ercoupe (Eng & Research Corp ) 415-D registered N89331 was involved in an accident near Belleville, Illinois, United States. One person was on board and 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

28 September 1995 at 14:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Belleville, Illinois, United States

Coordinates

38.4807, -90.0002

Aircraft

Ercoupe (Eng & Research Corp ) 415-D

Registration

N89331

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

St. Charles → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

CHI95LA334

1 person had minor injuries.

the rupture of the oil pressure line which led to oil system exhaustion, the stuck intake valves, and the powerlines.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

THE AIRPLANE'S ENGINE ABRUPTLY LOST POWER WHILE CRUISING AT 1700 FEET ABOVE GROUND LEVEL. THE PILOT ATTEMPTED A FORCED LANDING TO A CORN FIELD. ON APPROACH, THE LANDING GEAR OF THE AIRPLANE CAUGHT ON SOME POWERLINES. THE AIRPLANE PITCHED DOWN, STRUCK A ROAD AND SLID APPROXIMATELY 30 FEET BEFORE COMING TO A STOP. EXAMINATION OF THE WRECKAGE REVEALED OIL STREAKED DOWN THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE FUSELAGE BEGINNING JUST AFT OF THE ENGINE COWLING. EXAMINATION OF THE ENGINE REVEALED A RUPTURE IN AN OIL PRESSURE LINE LEADING TO THE NUMBER 1 CYLINDER. THE NUMBER 1 AND 2 INTAKE VALVES WERE FOUND STUCK OPEN DUE TO LACK OF LUBRICATION.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.