# Accident 20200225002212A: Ercoupe 415-C, Torrance, CA, February 25, 2020

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: February 25, 2020, 12:15 local time
- Place: Torrance, CA
- Airport: Zamperini Field
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Collision: Collision on the ground
- Phase of flight: Takeoff: Climb Out
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 33.8031° N, 118.3381° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.8031&lon=-118.3381&mi=10
- Aircraft: N3437H, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N3437H) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Ercoupe 415-C (registry code 0420322, https://openairdocs.org/model/ercoupe-415-c) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Continental C85 series (registry code 17008, https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-c85-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: ERCOUPE 415-C
- Reported engine: CONT MOTOR C85 SERIES
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 1
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB WPR20LA094](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR20LA094) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20200225002212A

## Narrative

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

AN ERCOUPE, REGISTRATION NUMBER N3437H, MODEL 415-C, S/N 4062, WAS PERFORMING TOUCH AND GO LANDINGS AT TORRANCE AIRPORT ON RUNWAY 29R.  ON THE THIRD TOUCH-AND-GO TAKEOFF ATTEMPT, THE ENGINE LOST POWER AT APPROXIMATELY 200-300? AGL.  THE PILOT LOWERED THE NOSE, MADE A LEFT TURN AND SUCCESSFULLY LANDED ON TAXIWAY BRAVO, SOUTH OF THE COMPASS ROSE.  AS THE PILOT ATTEMPTED TO SLOW, THE ERCOUPE PROCEEDED IN A SOUTH-WESTERLY DIRECTION, DEPARTED TAXIWAY B AND ENTERED THE GRASS INFIELD SOUTHEAST OF THAT TAXIWAY.  THE AIRCRAFT THEN CROSSED TAXIWAY ALPHA AND UPON ENTERING THE GRASS INFIELD SOUTHWEST OF THAT TAXIWAY, THE AIRCRAFT'S LEFT WING CLIPPED A TAXI SIGN.  UPON EXITING THE SECOND GRASS INFIELD AND ENTERING THE PAVED NON-MOVEMENT AREA, THE AIRCRAFT?S LEFT WING STRUCK THE RIGHT WING STRUT OF A PARKED CESSNA 206, N7265R, WHICH MADE THE ERCOUPE SPIN TO THE LEFT.  THE LEFT VERTICAL STABILIZER THEN CLIPPED THE NOW DROOPING RIGHT WING TIP OF THE CESSNA AND THE ERCOUPE CONTINUED IN A SOUTHWEST DIRECTION, ROTATING TO THE LEFT AND SKIDDING SIDEWAYS.  THE ERCOUPE?S RIGHT WING THEN COLLIDED WITH A PARKED PIPER PA-28-51, N1033X, HITTING IT ON THE FORWARD LEFT SIDE OF THE AIRCRAFT.  THE ERCOUPE SPUN AROUND THE ENGINE OF THE PIPER IN A CLOCKWISE DIRECTION AND CAME TO REST ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE PIPER, WITH THE ERCOUPE?S ENGINE RESTING IN BETWEEN THE PIPER?S RIGHT SIDE ENGINE COWLING AND RIGHT WING INBOARD LEADING EDGE.  THE PILOT AND PASSENGER EXITED THE AIRCRAFT WITH THE PILOT SUSTAINING A MINOR INJURY.  NO FIRE ENSUED.

## Other aircraft in the event

- N7265R, Cessna T206H: no report for this aircraft; [N7265R](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N7265R) is registered now

## 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 WPR20LA094](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR20LA094), Feb 25, 2020: Ercoupe 415 (N3437H), Torrance, CA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The partial loss of power due to a malfunction of the throttle cable, which limited movement of the throttle body.

## Other reports on N3437H (1)

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

- [Incident 20100620034989I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20100620034989I), Jun 20, 2010: Ercoupe 415-C (N3437H), Planada, CA, No damage. On Sunday afternoon 6/20/10 while enroute from columbia airport (O22) to madera California Ercoupe N3437H experienced a engine failure due to fuel 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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