Ercoupe (Eng & Research Corp ) 415-G N94415

Summary

On 24 May 1997 at about 00:30 local time, a Ercoupe (Eng & Research Corp ) 415-G registered N94415 was involved in an accident near Colusa, Illinois, United States. 2 people were on board and 2 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

24 May 1997 at 00:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Colusa, Illinois, United States

Nearest airport

Douglas Airport (Rla) (IL84)

Coordinates

Not recorded

Aircraft

Ercoupe (Eng & Research Corp ) 415-G

Registration

N94415

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Instructional

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

CHI97LA145

2 people had minor injuries.

improper installation of the rocker arm assembly by maintenance personnel which led to the failure of the rocker arm. A factor was the soft terrain.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot-in-command stated that during the initial climb after a series of touch-and-go's, 'at an altitude of 250 feet, the engine began running rough and made a clattering noise.' The CFI said he then took control of the aircraft. The pilot reported that the 'engine quite completely with the propeller stopping in the horizontal position.' The CFI next executed a forced landing in a 'freshly planted' field. The CFI said, [the] 'Aircraft touched down firmly and we rolled approximately 50 feet when the nose wheel dug in and the aircraft went over onto its back, nose first.' Postcrash investigation of the airplane showed that the exhaust valve rocker arm on the number two cylinder was broken in two pieces. Further inspection of the number two cylinder showed that the exhaust valve rocker arm had been interchanged with the intake valve rocker arm of the same cylinder.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.