# Accident 20050514010249A: Stolam RC3, Santa Rosa, CA, May 14, 2005

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: May 14, 2005, 15:10 local time
- Place: Santa Rosa, CA
- Airport: Sonoma County
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Forced/Precautionary Landing
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 38.5833° N, 122.5000° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.5833&lon=-122.5000&mi=10
- Aircraft: N6292K, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N6292K-2021-10-02) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Republic RC-3 (registry code 3080202, https://openairdocs.org/model/republic-rc-3) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Franklin 6A8 series (registry code 27030, https://openairdocs.org/engine/franklin-6a8-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: STOLAM RC3
- Reported engine: FRNKLN 6A8215B8F
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 10,000 total, 29 in this make and model, 20 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB LAX05LA172](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX05LA172) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20050514010249A

## Narrative

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

(-23) SHORTLY AFTER TAKE OFF FROM STS, PILOT NOTICED THE ENGINE OIL TEMPERATURE HAD RISEN FROM 180 TO 190 DEGREES F. THE PILOT ALSO NOTICED THAT THEY WERE NOT GAINING ALTITUDE AND, BECAUSE OF THE MOUNTAIN RIDGE BETWEEN STS AND THEIR LOCATION, MADE A DECISION TO GO TO HEALDSBURG (O31) AIRPORT. HOWEVER THE OIL TEMPERATURE KEPT RISING AND WAS NOW AT 200 DEGREES F AND CLIMBING AS THE OIL PRESSURE WAS DROPPING AND THE PILOT COULD NOT HOLD ALTITUDE. HOWEVER THE OIL TEMPERATURE KEPT RISING AND WAS NOT AT 200 DEGREES F AND CLIMBING AS THE OIL PRESSURE WAS DROPPING AND THE PILOT COULD NOT HOLD ALTITUDE. A COUPLE OF MINUTES LATER, THE PILOT HEARD A LOUD NOISE FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT ACCOMPANIED BY A COMPLETE LOSS OF POWER. ATTEMPTING AN OFF FIELD LANDING, WITH GEAR (RECOMMENDED WITH THIS AMPHIBIOUS AIRCRAFT IN EMERGENCY PROCEDURES) AND FLAPS DOWN, THE PILOT BELLY LANDED IN A SOFT GROUND VINEYARD, NOSE DUG IN, AND THE AIRCRAFT CAME TO REST INVERTED. LIMITED SUBSEQUENT INVESTIGATION, WITNESSED BY NTSB, AVIATION SAFETY INSPECTOR, ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED REVEALED AN UNCONTAINED FAILURE OF THE NUMBER 1 CYLINDER PISTON MAIN CONNECTING ROD AT THE CRANKSHAFT JOURNAL.

## 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 LAX05LA172](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX05LA172), May 14, 2005: Republic RC-3 (N6292K), Geyserville, CA, substantial damage. Probable cause: A loss of engine power due to failure of the number 1 connecting rod bearing due to a probable oil starvation.

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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