The pilot had just purchased the Aeronca 7EC and was flying it from Saratoga Springs, New York, to Northern Lights Airport (VT46) in Alburg, Vermont, for an annual inspection.
During the flight, the mixture control kept “creeping out” and the pilot pushed it back in two or three times.
The last time the mixture control moved aft, he told investigators he “pushed it a little stronger,” and afterwards noted that he could no longer enrich the fuel.
The engine started to backfire, “cut out,” and was losing power.
Unable to regain power to the engine, he elected to execute a forced landing to a field near Putnam Valley, New York, during which the airplane hit a power line.
Examination of the airplane by an FAA inspector revealed substantial damage to the structural tubing that connects to the firewall. The inspector’s review of the aircraft maintenance logbooks revealed that the airplane’s most recent annual inspection was in 2007.
The engine and its accessories were examined under the supervision of an FAA inspector after the airplane was recovered to a hangar. The throttle and mixture controls functioned normally. The spark plugs were removed and visually examined with no anomalies noted other than post-impact oil fouling. Both magnetos were tested and produced spark at all towers. Fuel was present throughout the fuel system, including the gascolator and carburetor float bowl. About 9 gallons of fuel were drained from the left tank and about 1.5 gallons were drained from the right tank.
Both wing fuel caps were tested and found to vent properly. When the left and right fuel tanks were pressurized, the right wing forward and aft vent outlets were free from obstruction. However, the right tank vent interconnect and the left tank forward and aft outlets were completely obstructed. Both fuel tanks fed into a common fuel manifold above the fuel shutoff valve.
Probable Cause: A total loss of engine power during cruise flight due to fuel starvation resulting from obstructed forward and aft vent outlets in the left fuel tank.
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This May 2022 accident report is provided by the National Transportation Safety Board. Published as an educational tool, it is intended to help pilots learn from the misfortunes of others.
I’m like, “Huh?…oh, right, right… what?… Oh yeah right.” But honestly, I have no idea.
Vents were obstructed….by what??
There was no info on what blocked the vent [ only 1], and both fuel lines .
The NTSB folks used compressed air to clear the 3 lines after not getting no fuel gravity flow from the 2 fuel lines.
Could be corrosion ‘stuff’, dirt, mud daubers, if the tanks ere empty for years and the cap was off. ??? Who knows.?
The inspection of the aircraft should have verified that fuel would flow from each tank, especially important since there is no ‘left’ vs ‘right’ fuel selector setting.
Interesting info from the reports;
The NTSB folks noted that both fuel lines from the left tank were blocked.
The pilot stated that he had 25 gal at departure, filling both 13 gallon tanks.
BUT, the NTSB noted 9 gal in the left tank and 1.5 in the right tank.
So, he used 11.5 gal from the right tank….and none from the left, or where did 4 gal go.?
The distance for the trip is 112 nm, so at 90 kts, is about 1.25 hrs. At 7 gph it should have used about 9 gal.
But he ran the right tank dry in 0.75 hrs….implying 15.3 gph…not possible with an O-235.!
Also, the only fuel gauge is in the right tank, so He should have been monitoring it…assuming that it worked.?
So, the data doesn’t add up…
My guess, ‘ More Stupid Pilot Tricks’ and a wrecked aircraft.
Lesson: Check the logbooks for the plane carefully. This plane had not had an annual inspection for more than 14 years. Looking at the logs in the NTSB report, last annual 2007, followed by at least one 100 hr inspection.
To fly it for maintenance would require a ferry permit, if the “local” FSDO would issue one. And that’s if I understand the process correctly.
Secondary, from personal experience — Have an IA inspect the aircraft going toward an annual to find any problems BEFORE buying the plane. It can prevent you from buying a project (one where you have to fix several deficiencies to make it airworthy).