Ercoupe F 1 N3000G accident near West Kingston, Rhode Island

Probable cause

The pilot’s failure to conduct a proper preflight inspection and ensure the fuel was uncontaminated, which resulted in a partial loss of engine power and forced landing.

NTSB analysis

Shortly after takeoff, during initial climb out, the pilot noted a decrease in engine performance and that the airplane was unable to climb or maintain altitude. After unsuccessfully attempting to troubleshoot the issue, he performed a forced landing in field that was populated by solar panels. During the landing the airplane struck several of the solar panels, resulting in substantial damage to both wings and the fuselage.

Postaccident examination of the engine and fuel system revealed the presence of water and other contaminates in the gascolator, carburetor bowl, carburetor inlet screen, and engine-driven fuel pump. The examination did not otherwise discover evidence of any mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. The pilot stated that while he performed his preflight inspection, which included sampling fuel from the airplane’s the header fuel tank, he historically always had difficulty with water in the fuel, specifically from the header tank and gascolator. Given this information it is likely that the partial loss of engine power the pilot experienced during the climb was due to contamination of the engine’s fuel supply with water and debris.

Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for ERA20LA325 for the full record.