N2871EAeronca 7AC · 1946

On July 11, 2009, about 1050 eastern daylight time, an Aeronca Champ 7AC, N2871E had a total loss of engine power and nosed over while making a forced landing on a golf course near Auburn/Lewiston Municipal Airport, Maine. The private pilot and passenger were uninjured, and the airplane was substantially damaged by impact forces. The flight was operated as a personal flight under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 91 and no flight plan was filed. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident.

The pilot stated that he had just sold the airplane and was acting as pilot in command during the flight. He said that they were at 2,800 ft agl, when the engine lost all power. He tried to restore power by applying carburetor heat, but was unsuccessful. He subsequently made a forced landing on a golf course and the airplane flipped over inverted.

Examination of the airplane by a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector revealed that; the pilot had drained all of the fuel out of the fuel tanks prior to his arrival. The FAA inspector stated that approximately 10 gallons of fuel was drained from the both wing tanks. Fuel samples were taken from the tanks at the fuel facility, and no contamination was noted. During further examination of the airplane, dirt and rust contamination was found in the gascolator, carburetor fuel bowl, and in the carburetor nozzles.