Accident Overview
On August 25, 2015, at about 1335 eastern daylight time, an Engineering and Research Ercoupe 415-C, registration N87172, sustained substantial damage during a precautionary landing at Newnan Coweta County Airport (CCO) in Atlanta, Georgia. The aircraft was occupied by an airline transport rated pilot and a private pilot, both of whom were not injured. The airplane was registered to and operated by the private pilot as a test flight under 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. No flight plan was filed for the local flight, which had departed from CCO about 1330.
Flight Details
This was the airplane's first test flight after undergoing an annual inspection and having its wings re-installed. The private pilot, who owned the aircraft, performed the takeoff. However, once airborne, the airplane banked hard left, requiring the other pilot to take control. The second pilot reported needing full right rudder and aileron to maintain level flight. He climbed to 400 ft with full power, then turned back to land on the departure runway. When power was reduced over the runway, the airplane veered left. The pilot corrected for the yaw, causing the aircraft to yaw right and land hard beside the runway. The nose gear collapsed, and the airplane skidded to a stop, damaging the propeller and an engine mount.
Pilot Information
The 88-year-old owner held a private pilot certificate for airplane single-engine land. He reported 457 total flight hours, of which 270 hours were in the same make and model as the accident airplane. His last FAA third-class medical was issued on December 3, 2012. The 52-year-old pilot held an airline transport pilot certificate for airplane multi-engine land, a commercial certificate for airplane single-engine land and instrument airplane, and certified flight instructor ratings for single- and multi-engine land. He also held a flight engineer certificate with type ratings for BA-300 and DC-9 airplanes. He reported 7,500 total flight hours, with 50 hours in the same make and model. His last FAA first-class medical was issued on March 10, 2015.
Postaccident Examination
A Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector conducted a postaccident examination of the airplane and found no mechanical deficiencies that would have precluded normal operation of the flight controls. The owner stated there were no mechanical problems and was unsure why the airplane was so difficult to control. He suggested that the wing attachments may have partially given way, but there was no way to prove this occurred.
Weather Conditions
Weather reported at the airport at 1355 included wind from 330 degrees at 4 knots, visibility 10 miles, and clear skies.