Aeronca 11AC N86002 accident near Nebo, North Carolina

Probable cause

A leak in the main fuel tank that resulted in a total loss of engine power due to fuel starvation.

NTSB analysis

The pilot was hired to transport the airplane to another state. Prior to departure, both the main and auxiliary fuel tanks were topped with fuel (minus 1 gallon) and the pilot departed using fuel from just the main tank. About 45 minutes into the flight, the engine began to run rough, and the pilot reported smelling a strong odor of fuel in the cockpit. The pilot was unable to maintain altitude and performed a forced landing to a highway. The airplane was substantially damaged during the landing.

Postaccident examination of the airplane’s fuel system revealed the main tank, which was gravity-fed from the aft fuel tank, was intact and empty of fuel. About 3.5 gallons of fuel was emptied from the aft tank. When fuel was added to the main tank, fuel was immediately observed to be leaking from the lower left-hand seam of the tank. Blue fuel stains were also observed around the area of the leak.

The accident is consistent with the engine losing power due to fuel starvation as a result of a leak in the main fuel tank.

Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for ERA20LA295 for the full record.