# Incident 20011201031199I: Curtis TRVAIR4000, Carlsbad, CA, December 1, 2001

- Type: FAA incident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: December 1, 2001, 13:30 local time
- Place: Carlsbad, CA
- Phase of flight: Normal Cruise
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 33.1581° N, 117.3506° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Carlsbad, CA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.1581&lon=-117.3506&mi=10
- Aircraft: N3242, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N3242) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Curtiss Wright TRAVEL AIR 4000 (registry code 2621802, https://openairdocs.org/model/curtiss-wright-travel-air-4000) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming R680 (registry code 41540, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-r680) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CURTIS TRVAIR4000
- Reported engine: LYC R68013
- People aboard: 3
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 12,000 total, 2,000 in this make and model, 200 in the last 90 days
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20011201031199I

## Narrative

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

(-23) THE AIRCRAFT DEPARTED PALOMAR AIRPORT (CRQ) ON A LOCAL SIGHT-SEEING FLIGHT WITH TWO PASSENGERS ON BOARD. APPROXIMATELY 20 MINUTES INTO THE FLIGHT THE ENGINE STARTED TO VIBRATE. SHORTLY THEREAFTER THE NUMBER 2 ENGINE CYLINDER SHEARED OFF ITS ATTACHING HARDWARE AND FELL OFF THE AIRCRAFT. THE AIRCRAFT WAS OVER THE PACIFIC OCEAN AND THE CYLINDER IS BELIEVED TO HAVE FALLEN INTO THE OCEAN. THE PILOT MADE AN EMERGENCY LANDING ON THE SAND COVERED BEACH APPROXIMATELY 1.5 MILES NORTH OF THE CARLSBAD POWERPLANT. THERE WERE NO INJURIES TO THE PILOT OR HIS PASSENGERS. THERE WAS NO DAMAGE TO THE AIRCRAFT. SUBSEQUENT INVESTIGATION DISCLOSED THAT AN UNCERTIFICATED PERSON HAD PERFORMED A HUNDRED HOUR INSPECTION ON THE AIRCRAFT THE WEEK BEFORE THE INCIDENT. THERE WAS NO EVIDENCE OF RECENT ENGINE WORK IN THE RECORDS. IT WAS NOT DETERMINED WHY THE ENGINE CYLINDER CAME OFF. AN EIR IS PENDING AGAINST THE SIGHT SEEING COMPANY (BARNSTORMING ADVENTURES LTD) AND THE NON-CERTIFICATED MECHANIC. THIS INCIDENT IS NOT RELATED TO ANY NMAC OR PILOT DEVIATION.

## Other reports on N3242 (2)

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.

- [Accident 20161122021472A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20161122021472A), Nov 22, 2016: Curtiss Wright TRAVEL AIR 4000 (N3242), San Diego, CA, Substantial damage. N3242 was taxiing eastbound on taxiway hotel. N2242W was holding short of juliet on taxiway hotel. The PIC of N3242 did not see that N2242W was stopped and…
- [Incident 19820725041109I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19820725041109I), Jul 25, 1982: Curtis TRVAIR4000 (N3242), Athol, ID, Minor damage. Landed hard in a crab angle. Side load collapsed the right main gear.

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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