# Accident 20000226004929A: Univar 415C, San Bernardino, CA, February 26, 2000

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: February 26, 2000, 16:20 local time
- Place: San Bernardino, CA
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Fcd/Prec Ldg From Cruise
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 33.7992° N, 116.3599° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.7992&lon=-116.3599&mi=10
- Aircraft: N99590, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N99590-2003-10-25) (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 C8512F
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 670 total, 135 in this make and model, 20 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB LAX00LA111](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX00LA111) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20000226004929A

## Narrative

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

(.23) THE PILOT REPORTED MODERATE VIBRATIONS OF THE ENGINE AT 2500', HE SAID"I TRIED CARBURETOR HEAT, BUT IT MADE NO DIFFERENCE". THE PILOT THEN DIVERTED TOWARD THE RIALTO AIRPORT, RIALTO, CA. WITH THE ENGINE RUNNING ROUGH AND LOUD MECHANICAL NOISES. THE PILOT INDICATED THAT HE WAS NOT ABLE TO MAINTAIN ALTITUDE, THEN THE ENGINE LOST ALL POWER, BUT THE PROPELLOR CONTINUING TO WIND MILL. THE PILOT SAID"THAT HE WAS NOW AT 1300' AND LOCATED A LANDING SITE, HE TOUCHED DOWN ON ONE THIRD THE WAY DOWN THE FIELD, CONSISTING OF SHORT WET GRASS, HE APPLIED BRAKES BUT COULD  NOT STOP BEFORE HITTING A FENCE MADE FROM WOODEN RAILWAY TIES". THE PILOT REPORTED THAT HE EXITED THE A/C AFTER IT STOPPED AND EMERGENCY SERVICE VEHICLES ARRIVED WITHIN 4 MINUTES. THE A/C RECEIVED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGES, BUT NO INJURIES WERE REPORTED BY THE PILOT.                                                                    (.4)ON FEBRUARY 26, 2000, ABOUT 1620 HOURS PACIFIC STANDARD TIME, AN ERCOUPE 415-C, N99590, WAS SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED WHEN IT FORCE LANDED IN A FIELD AND COLLIDED WITH A FENCE AT SAN BERNARDINO, CALIFORNIA. THE AIRPLANE WAS OWNED AND OPERATED BY THE PRIVATE PILOT WHO WAS NOT INJURED. VISUAL METEOROL OGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED FOR THE PERSONAL FLIGHT OPERATING UNDER 14 CFR PART 91. NO FLIGHT PLAN WAS FILED. THE FLIGHT ORIGINATED AT RIVERSIDE, CALIFORNIA, AT 1600, AND WAS DESTINED FOR APPLE VALLEY, CALIFORNIA. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT THE ENGINE BEGAN TO VIBRATE DURING CRUISE FLIGHT, AND THEN QUIT. POSTACCIDENT EXAMINATION OF THE ENGINE REVEALED THAT THE NUMBER 1 ENGINE CYLINDER'S EXHAUST VALVE HAD FAILED AT THE NECK OF THE VALVE. A FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION INSPECTOR STATED THAT THE PILOT AND THE AIRPLANE WERE BOTH PROPERLY CERTIFICATED AND IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE REGULATIONS AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT.

## 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 LAX00LA111](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX00LA111), Feb 27, 2000: Ercoupe 415-C (N99590), San Bernardino, CA, substantial damage. Probable cause: the total failure of the engine number 1 cylinder exhaust valve.

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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