# Accident 19981229045089A: Univar 415C, Santa Ysabel, CA, December 29, 1998

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: December 29, 1998, 16:45 local time
- Place: Santa Ysabel, CA
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Fcd/Prec Ldg From Cruise
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 33.1801° N, 116.7291° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.1801&lon=-116.7291&mi=10
- Aircraft: N99371, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N99371-2013-04-10) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Ercoupe 415-C (registry code 0420322, https://openairdocs.org/model/ercoupe-415-c) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Continental A&C75 series (registry code 17005, https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-a-c75-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: UNIVAR 415C
- Reported engine: CONT C85*
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 394 total, 126 in this make and model, 32 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB LAX99LA061](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX99LA061) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19981229045089A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

(.19) ON DECEMBER 29, 1998, ABOUT 1645 PACIFIC STANDARD TIME, AN ERCOUPE 415-C, N99371, INCURRED AN INFLIGHT SEPARATION OF THE PROPELLER NEAR SAN YSABEL, CALIFORNIA. THE AIRCRAFT SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE WHEN THE NOSE GEAR COLLAPSED DURING THE OFF FIELD FORCED LANDING. THE PRIVATE PILOT, THE SOLE OCCUPANT, WAS NOT INJURED. VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED FOR THE LOCAL PERSONAL FLIGHT, WHICH ORIGINATED FROM RAMONA, CALIFORNIA. NO FLIGHT PLAN WAS FILED. (.4)IN CRUISE FLIGHT AT 4,500 FEET, THE PILOT ADDED POWER AS THE TERRAIN BEGAN TO RISE, THEN THE ENGINE STARTED TO VIBRATE.  AS THE PILOT LOOKED DOWN TO CHECK THE MIXTURE AND CARBURETOR HEAT, THE VIBRATION INTENSIFIED.  THE CRANKSHAFT FRACTURED AND THE PROPELLER SEPARATED FROM THE AIRPLANE.  THE PILOT SUBSEQUENTLY MADE A FORCED LANDING ON UNEVEN TERRAIN AND THE NOSE GEAR COLLAPSED.  METALLURGICAL LABORATORY EXAMINATION OF THE REMAINING CRANKSHAFT PIECE DETERMINED THE CRANKSHAFT SEPARATED FORWARD OF THE OIL-SLINGER FLANGE DUE TO FATIGUE.  THE FATIGUE REGION HAD AN ORIGIN POINT IN AN AREA MECHANICALLY DAMAGED DURING THE CRANKSHAFT FAILURE.                                                                                    (-23)AFTER TAKEOFF FROM RAMONA AIRPORT (L39), ENGINE CRANKSHAFT FAILED CAUSING THE PROPELLER TO SEPERATE FROM THE AIRCRAFT AND STRIKE THE LEFT WING NEAR THE TIP. AIRCRAFT MADE AN EMERGENCY LANDING IN FIELD. NO INJURIES REPORTED.  PROPELLER NOT FOUND.  ADDITIONAL DAMAGE SUSTAINED TO LEFT WING, NOSE GEAR/DOOR AND LOWER ENGINE AREA.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB LAX99LA061](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX99LA061), Dec 30, 1998: Ercoupe 415-C (N99371), San Ysabel, CA, substantial damage. Probable cause: A fatigue fracture of the crankshaft and the resulting separation of the propeller.

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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