20190501003769A

Accident · Substantial damage

FAA accident report · Storch FL-156C · Upland, CA · May 1, 2019

Date: May 1, 2019 · 10:00 local
Place: Upland, CA
Airport: Cable
Phase of flight: Takeoff: Climb Out
Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
Damage: Substantial damage
Aircraft: N156LZ
NTSB investigation: NTSBWPR19LA129
Reported as: Storch FL-156C
Reported engine: ROTAX 912ULS series
People aboard: 1
Fatal injuries: 0
Other injuries: 1
Pilot’s certificate: Commercial pilot

N156LZRegistered now · Storch FL-156CS/N SA-001K · Built 2009 Airframe modelStorch FL-156C Engine modelRotax 912ULS series4 cycle

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.

Shortly after takeoff the pilot noticed that he was starting to lose oil pressure. The pilot then attempted to return to the airport but was unable to make and the aircraft crashed into a vacant field approximately 500 yards short of the runway. This report to be amended at a future date.

As the FAA filed it

SHORTLY AFTER TAKEOFF THE PILOT NOTICED THAT HE WAS STARTING TO LOSE OIL PRESSURE. THE PILOT THEN ATTEMPTED TO RETURN TO THE AIRPORT BUT WAS UNABLE TO MAKE AND THE AIRCRAFT CRASHED INTO A VACANT FIELD APPROXIMATELY 500 YARDS SHORT OF THE RUNWAY. THIS REPORT TO BE AMENDED AT A FUTURE DATE.

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 WPR19LA129Accident · Serious injuriesClass 3 · LimitedFinal reportUpland, CAThe pilot’s improper installation of the No. 3 cylinder valve cover, which resulted in an oil leak, oil starvation, and a subsequent total loss of engine power.May 1, 2019 · Substantial damage