Accident Overview
On July 5, 2014, at approximately 1130 central daylight time, an Aeronca 7CCM (registration N82442) was substantially damaged during a forced landing near Prentiss, Mississippi. The flight, operated by a private individual under 14 CFR Part 91, originated from Prentiss County Airport (M43) about 1115, en route to a private airstrip in Collins, Mississippi. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed.
Pilot Actions and Events
The pilot reported departing with 9 gallons of automobile gasoline, for which he held an FAA supplemental type certificate. Toward the end of the approximate 20-minute flight, the engine suddenly lost all power without warning. The pilot switched from the header fuel tank to the right main fuel tank and set up for a forced landing to a hayfield, as surrounding terrain was wooded. Just prior to landing, the engine regained power for about three seconds, then lost all power again. This momentary power increase placed the airplane on a high glidepath for the hayfield. The pilot, unwilling to land in trees, stalled the airplane while maneuvering to the hayfield.
Post-Accident Observations
After the accident, the pilot confirmed fuel was present in the header fuel tank and right wing fuel tank. He did not know why the engine lost all power. The airplane was uninsured, and the pilot planned to scrap it, with no further troubleshooting. An FAA inspector examined the wreckage and noted that during impact, the right main landing gear separated and the right wing partially collapsed downward. The header fuel tank was compromised and empty, while the right wing fuel tank was intact and contained fuel. The aircraft had no left wing fuel tank. Due to the wreckage disposition, the inspector could rotate the propeller only about 90 degrees before ground contact but noted no mechanical binding. The fuel bowl was inaccessible. A rear seat passenger was holding her 5-year-old son on her lap. The pilot and adult passenger sustained lacerations; the child was not injured.
Additional Information
The pilot could not locate his logbooks but reported a total flight experience of 5,000 hours, with 4,000 hours in the same make and model, including 40 hours in the 90 days preceding the accident. The pilot's mechanic stated he completed an annual inspection on or about August 1, 2013, and after the airplane was recovered, he could rotate the propeller and obtain thumb compression on all four cylinders. An FAA Carburetor Icing chart for the temperature (82°F) and dew point (57°F) at the time indicated serious icing at glide power; however, the engine was at cruise power when the power loss occurred.