Oxnard Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Oxnard, California 93030
Sunday, September 8, 2002 11:36 PDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The experimental airplane experienced a propeller drive shaft failure and collided with the terrain during a forced landing at an airport. During the initial climb, about 300 to 400 feet above ground level, the engine surged and the airplane could not sustain lift. The engine was still producing power, but failed to distribute that power to the propeller. With a lemon grove directly ahead, the pilot opted to turn back to the runway to land. As he began a left turn toward the runway, the left wing impacted the dirt and the airplane "cartwheeled." Examinations revealed that the propeller hub had separated from the crankshaft. The tapered spacer, attached to crankshaft, had loosened. This instantaneous torque load to the crankshaft resulted in the propeller hub separating from the remaining taper, and the bolt unscrewing from the crankshaft.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

the loosening of the tapered spacer, which resulted in the propeller hub separating from the crankshaft. A factor in the accident was the unsuitable terrain for landing.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 9/8/2002
Event Day of the Week Sunday
Time of Event 1136
Event Time Zone Pacific Daylight Time
Event City OXNARD
Event State CALIFORNIA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 93030
Event Date Year 2002
Event Date Month 9
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 341203N
Event Location Longitude 1191226W
Event Location Airport Oxnard Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID OXR
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles 0.25
Degrees magnetic from airport 70
Airport Elevation 43
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1151 Pacific Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) --
Weather Observation Facility ID OXR
Elevation of weather observation facility 65
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) --
Time Zone of the weather observation PDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height --
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 9
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 22
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 14
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 270
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 12
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29.96
Density Altitude (feet) 875
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Serious
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious 1
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 16350
NTSB Notification Source FAA
NTSB Notification Date Sep 8 2002 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1225
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information DMS
Date of most recent change to record Sep 29 2004 1:02PM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\MONR
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office VAN NUYS, CA FSDO

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N164JL
NTSB Number LAX02LA279
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? No
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Lockamy
Aircraft Model SONEX
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 300
Certified Max Gross Weight --
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? Yes
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 --
Date of Last Inspection --
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed No
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name Jack Lockamy
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City Camarillo
Aircraft Owner State CA
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 93010
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name --
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address --
Operator City --
Operator State --
Operator Country --
Operator Zip code --
Operator Code --
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? --
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation --
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 Yes
Departure Airport Code OXN
Departure City OXNARD
Departure State CA
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1136
Departure Time Zone PDT
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code OXN
Destination City Oxnard
Destination State CA
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight Takeoff - initial climb
Report sent to ICAO? No
Evacuation occurred No
Date of most recent change to record Aug 6 2004 6:15PM
User who most recently changed record COOS
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location NA
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --