Incident Overview
On April 30, 2020, at approximately 1430 central daylight time, an Ercoupe 415-C, registration N2275H, sustained substantial damage during an accident near Hallettsville Airport (34R), Hallettsville, Texas. The pilot was not injured. The airplane was being operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight.
Flight and Power Loss
The pilot had departed from Garner Field Airport (UVA), Uvalde, Texas, about 1330, with an intended destination of Eagle Lake Airport (ELA), Eagle Lake, Texas. About one hour into the flight, the engine began to rattle and vibrate. It lost partial power and was running at approximately 1,000 RPM. The pilot initiated a diversion toward Hallettsville Airport, which was 7 miles away, but realized the airplane could not maintain altitude and would not reach the airport. The pilot then maneuvered for an emergency landing in a field. During the landing, the nose landing gear collapsed, and the airplane nosed over.
Postaccident Examination
Postaccident examination revealed buckling on the forward underside of the fuselage near the engine firewall, the nose landing gear mount, and the wings. Engine drive continuity was confirmed, and intake/exhaust valve functionality and cylinder compression were verified. No mechanical anomalies were found with the engine. The lower Nos. 1 and 4 spark plugs were found fouled and carbon bridged.
Fuel system inspection showed the right-wing fuel tank was nearly empty, the header fuel tank was about two-thirds full, and the left-wing fuel tank was almost full. The cockpit fuel selector was in the left tank position. Unidentified contamination was found in a fuel sample taken from the left-wing fuel tank. A fuel sample from the pilot's last refueling source at Uvalde showed no contaminants.
The carburetor was heavily soiled. The carburetor and gascolator/sediment bowl contained sediment and murky fuel. The carburetor heat knob in the cockpit was found not engaged. According to the carburetor icing probability chart in Federal Aviation Administration Special Information Bulletin CE-09-35, with a temperature of 81°F and a dew point of 27°F, the airplane was operating within the range of serious icing at descent power.