Accident Details
On December 6, 2020, at approximately 1618 eastern daylight time, an Ercoupe 415-C, registration N2674H, was substantially damaged during an accident near South Boston, Virginia. The private pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured. The flight was conducted under Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight.
Sequence of Events
The pilot reported that the airplane had 25 gallons of fuel onboard at departure. He performed three takeoffs and landings, followed by a local sightseeing flight northeast of his home airport. About 45 minutes into the flight, the engine experienced a partial loss of power. In response, the pilot applied carburetor heat and used the primer to attempt to inject fuel into the engine; however, the engine eventually lost all power. The pilot then executed a forced landing to a road. During the landing, the airplane struck a mailbox, causing substantial damage to the right wing.
Post-Accident Examination
A mechanic examined the engine after the accident and found that a fuel filter screen cover gasket from the fuel transfer pump—which transfers fuel from the wings to the header fuel tank—had failed. The failed gasket allowed the fuel transfer pump to draw in air instead of fuel. When the mechanic replaced the gasket, the engine started and ran normally, and the fuel transfer pump operated normally.
A Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector examined the failed gasket and determined it was an approved cork gasket that had been damaged, possibly during installation. The inspector also noted that the sight gauge for the fuel header tank was cloudy and an unapproved part. The failed gasket had been installed during the most recent annual inspection on August 1, 2020.