Accident Overview
On April 19, 2016, at 1430 eastern daylight time, a Champion 7ECA, registration N5094X, experienced a loss of engine power and subsequently conducted a forced landing at an abandoned airport in Tannersville, Pennsylvania. The aircraft was substantially damaged during the emergency landing, but the pilot and passenger were not injured. The airplane was registered to and operated by East Penn Flying Club under Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed for the local flight that had departed Allentown Queen City Municipal Airport (XLL), Allentown, Pennsylvania, at 1230.
Sequence of Events
According to the pilot, while returning from a local flight at a cruise altitude of 2,800 feet above ground level, the engine began to "sputter and [lose] power." The pilot set the mixture to the full rich position and applied carburetor heat in an attempt to restore power, but these actions had no effect. As the airplane continued to lose altitude, the pilot executed an emergency landing at an abandoned airfield. During the landing roll, the pilot lost control of the aircraft, resulting in a ground loop. After landing, the pilot checked the fuel in both tanks and noted an undetermined amount of fuel present in each.
Post-Accident Examination
A Federal Aviation Administration inspector examined the wreckage. The aircraft came to rest on its left wing; the left wing was buckled, and the left landing gear had separated from the fuselage. Inspection of the fuel system revealed that the airplane was not equipped with a fuel selector. The right fuel tank was intact but empty, while the left tank was approximately half full. Examination of the engine did not reveal evidence of any pre-impact anomalies.
Weather and Carburetor Icing Conditions
At 1435, the recorded weather at XLL, located about 43 miles and 190° from the accident site, was: wind 360° at 10 knots, visibility 7 statute miles, sky clear, temperature 50°F, dew point 36°F, altimeter 30.08 inches of mercury. The temperature and dew point spread were plotted on a carburetor icing probability chart, and their intersection fell within the serious icing at cruise power and serious icing at glide power setting envelope.