# Accident 20090301008529A: Amtr STARLITE, Coachella, CA, March 1, 2009

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: March 1, 2009, 13:00 local time
- Place: Coachella, CA
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Cruise/Level Flight
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 33.6901° N, 116.1444° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Coachella, CA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.6901&lon=-116.1444&mi=10
- Aircraft: N180RR, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N180RR-2017-02-28) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Rudolph Ralph Monroe STARLITE (registry code 05612BU, https://openairdocs.org/model/rudolph-ralph-monroe-starlite) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Bombardier ROTAX (ALL) (registry code 09050, https://openairdocs.org/engine/bombardier-rotax-all) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: AMTR STARLITE
- Reported engine: ROTAX ROTAX447
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 2,500 total, 50 in this make and model, 20 in the last 90 days
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20090301008529A

## Narrative

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

(-23) ON 1 MARCH, 2009, WHILE AT CRUISE ALTITUDE ENROUTE TO THERMAL, CA., PILOT EXPERIENCED A COMPLETE LOSS OF POWER INTO AN AGRICULTURAL AREA ON COACHELLA, CA.  LOCAL AGRICULTURE PERSONNEL LATER DISCOVERED THE AIRCRAFT AND REPORTED IT TO LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES.  RIVERSIDE COUNTY SHERIFF DEPUTIES SUBSEQUENTLY FOUND THE AIRCRAFT IN A CAMOUFLAGED STATUS IN AN AGRICULTURE FIELD NEAR 49TH AVENUE AND TYLER IN COACHELLA, CA.  AMENDMENT - THE NTSB EXAMINED THE ENGINE AND FOUND THE REAR CONNECTING ROD AT THE CRANKSHAFT JOURNAL WAS SEPARATED AND EXHIBITED SEVERE HEAT DISTRESS SIGNATURES CONSISTENT WITH LUBRICATION DEPRAVATION.  THE RESPECTIVE CRANKSHAFT JOURNAL DISPLAYED A DARK BLACK/BLUE COLORATION COONSISTENT WITH HEAT DISTRESS.  THE FORWARD CRANKSHAFT JOURNAL AND CONNECTING ROD REMAINED UNDAMAGED.

## NTSB investigation

None matched to this report by aircraft and date. Search the NTSB's own records: https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-main-public/basic-search

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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