Pilot Debrief

ERCOUPE 415 near CENTRE HALL, PA — 2017-10-06

Final reportERA18LA007
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Date
2017-10-06
Location
CENTRE HALL, PA, USA
Airport
N74
Aircraft
ERCOUPE 415
Registration
N3538H
Category
Airplane
Highest injury
None
Fatalities
0
Phase of flight
Initial climb

Probable cause

The partial loss of engine power due to the No. 2 cylinder exhaust valve being stuck.

NTSB narrative

The private pilot reported that, after takeoff, he climbed the airplane to 200 ft above ground level, at which point it experienced an "appreciable" loss of engine power, the flight controls became "sluggish," and the airplane would no longer climb. He noted that the engine was operating about 275 rpm below the nominal full-power setting of 2,275 rpm at takeoff. The pilot chose to conduct a forced landing to a field directly off the departure end of the runway. During the landing roll, the airplane struck fences, which resulted in substantial damage to both wings. Postaccident examination of the engine revealed that the No. 2 cylinder exhaust valve was stuck in the open (compressed) position without rocker-arm contact. The valve remained in the open position through several rotations of the crankshaft. The stuck exhaust valve would have resulted in the partial loss of engine power and the airplane's inability to climb.

Analysis

Primary failure mode
Engine power loss
First missed decision gate
Pilot could have aborted takeoff upon noticing engine power loss.

NTSB coding

Evidence available

  • Photos
  • 5 docket documents
View NTSB final reportView NTSB docket

Docket documents5

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