20040712021809A

Accident · Substantial damage

FAA accident report · Univar 415-D · Santa Clarita, CA · July 12, 2004

Date: July 12, 2004 · 15:30 local
Place: Santa Clarita, CA
Phase of flight: Fcd/Prec Ldg From Cruise
Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
Damage: Substantial damage
Aircraft: N3837H
NTSB investigation: NTSBLAX04LA265
Reported as: Univar 415D
Reported engine: Continental C85*
People aboard: 1
Fatal injuries: 0
Pilot’s flight hours: 650 total80 in this make and model40 in the last 90 days

N3837HRegistration cancelled Aug 19, 2013 · Ercoupe 415-DS/N 4538 · Built 1947 Airframe modelErcoupe 415-D Engine modelContinental C85 seriesReciprocating

From the FAA’s Accident/Incident Data System (AIDS), through its Aviation Safety Information Portal, as reported. The NTSB investigates accidents separately, and its record of an accident is the fuller one. The aircraft is matched to the registry 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.

What happened

The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.

(-23) While enroute from ksmo to kmod, pilot reported that aircraft could not gain altitude above 2400' MSL while over castaic area. Pilot elected to return to kwhp but did not have sufficient altitude to make it to kwhp, pilot reported engine was running very hot, pilot elected to make precautionary landing in field in Santa Clarita, during landing roll out in field, the left main gear struck a rock and substantial damage was done to the left landing gear, left wing root/spar and left side of the carry thru spar in the center section. Also found the engine air intake filter to be oily and dirty, the dirt was not a result of this landing.

As the FAA filed it

(-23) WHILE ENROUTE FROM KSMO TO KMOD, PILOT REPORTED THAT AIRCRAFT COULD NOT GAIN ALTITUDE ABOVE 2400' MSL WHILE OVER CASTAIC AREA. PILOT ELECTED TO RETURN TO KWHP BUT DID NOT HAVE SUFFICIENT ALTITUDE TO MAKE IT TO KWHP, PILOT REPORTED ENGINE WAS RUNNING VERY HOT, PILOT ELECTED TO MAKE PRECAUTIONARY LANDING IN FIELD IN SANTA CLARITA, DURING LANDING ROLL OUT IN FIELD, THE LEFT MAIN GEAR STRUCK A ROCK AND SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE WAS DONE TO THE LEFT LANDING GEAR, LEFT WING ROOT/SPAR AND LEFT SIDE OF THE CARRY THRU SPAR IN THE CENTER SECTION. ALSO FOUND THE ENGINE AIR INTAKE FILTER TO BE OILY AND DIRTY, THE DIRT WAS NOT A RESULT OF THIS LANDING.

NTSB investigation

The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.

NTSB LAX04LA265Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportSanta Clarita, CAthe pilot's inadequate planning/decision by his inadequate evaluation of the weather resulting in an attempt to conduct flight beyond the aircraft's climb performance capability.Jul 13, 2004 · Substantial damage