Accident Overview
On August 13, 2016, at approximately 1203 eastern daylight time, a Luscombe 8A (registration N71497) was substantially damaged during a forced landing in an open field near Marlboro, New Jersey. The private pilot, who was the sole occupant, sustained serious injuries. The flight was conducted under Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed.
Flight History
The local flight originated about 1 hour 30 minutes earlier from Old Bridge Airport (3N6) in Old Bridge, New Jersey. The pilot reported that the airplane departed with about 12 gallons of fuel and cruised in the local area. While at 1,200 ft mean sea level, the engine suddenly ceased producing power. The pilot attempted to restore engine power, including applying carburetor heat, but those attempts were unsuccessful. He maneuvered toward a nearby racetrack for a forced landing but realized the flight path was too high. He then turned toward a field. While in a nose and left wing low attitude, the airplane impacted the ground. The pilot stated that the engine did not sputter before the power loss.
Post-Accident Examination
An FAA inspector examined the accident site and the airplane. The fuel tank was unbreached but contained no fuel. The inlet fitting at the fuel strainer was broken off, though no fuel leakage was observed. A stain on the ground near the engine was identified as oil from the breached oil tank. During recovery, the fuel supply line from the fuel tank was cut, and no fuel was present in the line.
The engine was examined by a representative of the engine manufacturer under FAA oversight. No evidence of preimpact failure or malfunction was found. The carburetor had separated from the induction plenum but remained connected via the flexible hose from the fuel strainer and control cables. When drained, it contained about 1 to 2 teaspoons of fuel. The fuel strainer contained about 2 tablespoons of fuel. The fuel tank quantity indicator glass was scratched and cloudy, but no other issues with the fuel quantity indicating system were reported.