Putnam Valley, NY, USA
N7410B
AERONCA 7EC
The pilot had just purchased the airplane and was flying it to a maintenance facility in a neighboring state for an annual inspection. During the flight, the engine started to backfire and lose power. The pilot attempted remedial action to restore engine power; however, he was unable to regain power to the engine, and elected to execute a forced landing to a field. During the forced landing the airplane impacted a power line. Postaccident examination of the airplane revealed no anomalies with the engine that would have precluded normal operation. About 9 gallons of fuel were drained from the left tank and about 1.5 gallons were drained from the right tank, although the two fuel tanks fed a common fuel manifold above the fuel shutoff valve. When the left and right fuel tanks were pressurized, the right wing forward and aft vent outlets were free from obstruction; however, the right tank vent interconnect was obstructed and the left tank forward and aft outlets were completely obstructed. It is likely that the engine was starved of fuel due to the fuel vent obstructions, which resulted in a restriction of fuel flow.
On May 25, 2022, about 1600 eastern daylight time, an Aeronca 7EC, N7410B, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Putnam Station, New York. The pilot was not injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 ferry flight. The pilot reported that he had just purchased the airplane and was flying it from Saratoga Springs, New York, to Northern Lights Airport (VT46), Alburg, Vermont, for an annual inspection. During the flight, the mixture control kept “creeping out” and the pilot pushed it back in 2-3 times. The last time the mixture control moved aft, he “pushed it a little stronger,” and afterwards noted that he could no longer enrich the fuel. The engine started to backfire, “cut out,” and was losing power. Unable to regain power to the engine, he elected to execute a forced landing to a field, during which the airplane impacted a power line. Examination of the airplane by a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector revealed substantial damage to the structural tubing that connects to the firewall. The inspector’s review of the aircraft maintenance logbooks revealed that the airplane’s most recent annual inspection was in 2007. The engine and its accessories were examined under the supervision of an FAA inspector after the airplane was recovered to a hangar. The throttle and mixture controls functioned normally. The spark plugs were removed and visually examined with no anomalies noted other than postimpact oil fouling. Both magnetos were tested and produced spark at all towers. Fuel was present throughout the fuel system, including the gascolator and carburetor float bowl. About 9 gallons of fuel were drained from the left tank and about 1.5 gallons were drained from the right tank. Both wing fuel caps were tested and found to vent properly. When the left and right fuel tanks were pressurized, the right wing forward and aft vent outlets were free from obstruction; however, the right tank vent interconnect and the left tank forward and aft outlets were completely obstructed. Both fuel tanks fed into a common fuel manifold above the fuel shutoff valve.
A total loss of engine power during cruise flight due to fuel starvation resulting from obstructed forward and aft vent outlets in the left fuel tank.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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