Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Perris, California 92570
Monday, June 28, 2004 14:39 PDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The airplane collided with ground obstructions during a forced landing following a catastrophic engine failure due to oil exhaustion during cruise flight. Just after achieving cruise altitude the pilot was scanning the cockpit gauges and he noticed the oil pressure gauge indicating a loss of pressure, with the oil warning light flickering intermittently. About 5 minutes later, the engine started to vibrate, and subsequently seized, making a loud bang. The airplane began to descend about 1,000 feet per minute, and the pilot selected a dirt field to perform an emergency landing. During the landing roll, the airplane impacted a berm. An engine examination revealed that the inside top of the engine cowling showed a concentration of oil near the firewall on the left side, which is the approximate location of the vacuum pump. Removal of the vacuum pump revealed an oily film on both sides of the pump gasket, which is seated between the vacuum pump flange and the engine accessory case flange. The vacuum pump had been installed about 0.5 hours prior to the accident. The mechanic who installed the pump said he used the gasket that was supplied with the pump. The manufacturer of the vacuum pump reported that they supply a gasket (part number AS3491-01) with their pump. In the TB-20 parts manual, the airplane manufacturer specifies that the gasket required is part number Z00.N7423254013, which they cross-reference with Textron Lycoming part number 8313. The investigation was unable to cross-reference or establish an equivalency between the AS3491-01 gasket supplied by the pump manufacturer with either the Lycoming or Socata specified gasket.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

A loss of engine power due to oil exhaustion as a result of the mechanic's use of an incorrect gasket during the installation of the vacuum pump.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 6/28/2004
Event Day of the Week Monday
Time of Event 1439
Event Time Zone Pacific Daylight Time
Event City Perris
Event State CALIFORNIA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 92570
Event Date Year 2004
Event Date Month 6
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 334800N
Event Location Longitude 1172500W
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 --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness Not pertinent
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1453 Pacific Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) --
Weather Observation Facility ID RAL
Elevation of weather observation facility 826
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) 26
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 14
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 290
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) 29.91
Density Altitude (feet) 2335
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 5
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 17991
NTSB Notification Source FAA
NTSB Notification Date Jun 28 2004 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1525
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information DMS
Date of most recent change to record Jul 7 2005 10:33AM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\JOHB
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office WP-RAL-FSDO

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N110U
NTSB Number LAX04LA251
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 SOCATA
Aircraft Model TB-20
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 595
Certified Max Gross Weight 3100
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 5
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Nov 29 2003 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 32
Airframe Hours 1750
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name Schaeffer Industries
Aircraft Owner Street Address 3030 Dulles Dr.
Aircraft Owner City Mira Loma
Aircraft Owner State CA
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 91752
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name --
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
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 No
Departure Airport Code F70
Departure City Murrieta
Departure State CA
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1400
Departure Time Zone PDT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code RNO
Destination City Reno
Destination State NV
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight Cruise
Report sent to ICAO? No
Evacuation occurred No
Date of most recent change to record May 9 2005 4:23PM
User who most recently changed record COOS
Since inspection or accident Last Inspection
Event Location Runway Number and Location NA
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --