Aeronca L16A N9325H

Summary

On 29 June 2019 at about 18:18 local time, a Aeronca L16A registered N9325H was involved in an accident near Zelienople, Pennsylvania, United States. One person was 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

29 June 2019 at 18:18

Classification

Accident

Location

Zelienople, Pennsylvania, United States

Nearest airport

Zelienople Municipal (PJC)

Coordinates

40.8578, -80.1950

Aircraft

Aeronca L16A

Registration

N9325H

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Zelienople → Zelienople

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

CEN19LA202

Nobody was injured.

A total loss of engine power due to obstruction of the carburetor air intake by a piece of the air filter gasket that had become detached.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot was returning to the airport to practice takeoffs and landings. About 15 minutes into the flight, while flying level at 1,900 ft mean sea level, the engine "abruptly" stopped. The pilot performed a forced landing to a nearby muddy hay field. During the landing roll, the right main landing gear buckled, collapsing the gear rearward and resulting in substantial damage to the right wing and fuselage. Engine control continuity was confirmed, and spark from both magnetos and all spark plugs were noted. A mechanic working on the airplane following the accident reported that a piece of the air filter gasket was lodged in the carburetor intake. It is likely that the obstruction of airflow caused by the gasket resulted in the loss of engine power.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.