Ercoupe (Eng & Research Corp ) 415-C N2256H

Summary

On 22 April 2005 at about 23:45 local time, a Ercoupe (Eng & Research Corp ) 415-C registered N2256H, operated by Clyde E. Lloyd, was involved in an accident near Roseburg, Oregon, United States. 2 people were on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

22 April 2005 at 23:45

Classification

Accident

Location

Roseburg, Oregon, United States

Nearest airport

George Felt Airport (5S1)

Coordinates

43.2247, -123.3969

Aircraft

Ercoupe (Eng & Research Corp ) 415-C

Registration

N2256H

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Clyde E. Lloyd

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Roseburg → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

SEA05LA087

Nobody was injured.

Loss of engine power for undetermined reasons. High vegetation was a factor.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot-rated passenger (aircraft owner) reported that he did not hold a current medical certificate, therefore the private pilot in the right seat who was current was acting as pilot-in-command, however, the aircraft owner was at the controls at the time of the takeoff. The pilot/owner reported that the pre-flight check and start-up were normal. A magneto check with 1,800 rpm noted that the right magneto dropped about 75 rpm and the left magneto dropped about 100 rpm, which he reported as normal. At the time of takeoff, the aircraft attained an altitude of about 100 feet above ground level, when the engine began to gradually lose power, "like someone pulled the throttle or the throttle linkage broke." The pilot/owner initiated a forced landing to a grape vineyard. During the landing roll, the aircraft experienced a nose gear collapse, the firewall was damaged as well as the leading edge of the wings. The engine was inspected then prepared for an engine run. The engine was found to start right up and a magneto check was accomplished finding that the left magneto produced a 300 rpm drop. The magnetos were then placed on a test bench. Both magnetos produced a spark from all towers up to 3,000 rpm. The ignition harness test found no anomalies. No evidence of a mechanical failure or malfunction was found with the engine.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.