Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Santa Clarita, California 91380
Tuesady, June 30, 1992 12:09 PDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE PILOT, WHO IS AN A&P MECHANIC, SAID HE BOUGHT THE AIRCRAFT AND COMPLETELY REBUILT IT 15 HOURS PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT. THE PILOT SAID THE AIRCRAFT WAS IN LEVEL CRUISE WHEN THE ENGINE BEGAN TO SPUTTER, THEN REDUCED TO IDLE. ALL ATTEMPTS TO RESTART THE ENGINE WERE UNSUCCESSFUL. THE PILOT ATTEMPTED TO LAND IN A FIELD AND COLLIDED WITH HIGH SAGE BRUSH AND SMALL TREES. FAA INSPECTORS CONDUCTED AN ONSITE EXAMINATION OF THE AIRCRAFT. THE GASCOLATOR BOWL WAS FOUND TO BE MISSING FROM THE FIREWALL MOUNT AND COULD NOT BE LOCATED AT THE SITE DURING A SEARCH OF THE AIRCRAFT GROUND ROLL PATH. DETAILED EXAMINATION OF THE AREA AROUND THE MOUNTING LOCATION ON THE FIREWALL REVEALED NO EVIDENCE OF ANY DAMAGE.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

FUEL STARVATION CAUSED BY THE INFLIGHT SEPARATION OF THE FUEL GASCOLATOR BOWL DUE TO IMPROPER COMPONENT INSTALLATION.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 6/30/1992
Event Day of the Week Tuesday
Time of Event 1209
Event Time Zone Pacific Daylight Time
Event City SANTA CLARITA
Event State CALIFORNIA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 91380
Event Date Year 1992
Event Date Month 6
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles 0
Degrees magnetic from airport 0
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Pilot
Time of the weather observation 0
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID
Elevation of weather observation facility 0
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 15
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 21
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 10
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 0
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 0
Wind Velocity Indicator Calm
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Minor
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor 2
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 2
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 439
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Jun 30 1992 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1243
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 46618
Date of most recent change to record Dec 11 2000 3:00PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N3165H
NTSB Number LAX92LA272
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Ercoupe (Eng & Research Corp.)
Aircraft Model 415C
Aircraft Series Identifier 415C
Aircraft Serial Number 3790
Certified Max Gross Weight 1260
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 2
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Apr 24 1992 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 15
Airframe Hours 3025
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name HERNAN D. POSADA
Aircraft Owner Street Address 1443 N. AVON STREET
Aircraft Owner City BURBANK
Aircraft Owner State CA
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 91505
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name HERNAN D. POSADA
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address 1443 N. AVON STREET
Operator City BURBANK
Operator State CA
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 91505
Operator Code
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation Unknown
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Personal
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code L70
Departure City AGUA DULCE
Departure State CA
Departure Country
Departure Time 1145
Departure Time Zone PDT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code VNY
Destination City VAN NUYS
Destination State CA
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Cruise
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:35AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 0
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --