# Accident 20240620009269A: Lancair Company LC42-550FG, Fortuna, CA, June 20, 2024 - Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported - Date: June 20, 2024, 10:34 local time - Place: Fortuna, CA - Damage: Substantial damage - Phase of flight: Climb - Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91) - Location: 40.6952° N, 124.2117° W: From the FAA - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.6952&lon=-124.2117&mi=10 - Aircraft: N141PB, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N141PB) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry model: Lancair LC42-550FG (registry code 5150002, https://openairdocs.org/model/lancair-lc42-550fg) (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: LANCAIR COMPANY LC42-550FG - Reported engine: CONTINENTAL IO550 - People aboard: 1 - Fatal injuries: 0 - Other injuries: 0 - Pilot certificates: Private pilot - Pilot flight hours: 2,700 total - NTSB investigation: [NTSB WPR24LA210](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR24LA210) (OpenAirDocs) - FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/) - Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20240620009269A ## Narrative As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^. 06/20/2024 FILED FOR 10:30 IFR DEPARTURE KEKA FOT V27 ENI STS SGD KAPC. REMAINING FUEL 68 GALLONS EQUALLY DISTRIBUTED R AND L TANKS. OBTAINED TELEPHONE CLEARANCE DEPARTURE BY 10:27 FROM SEATTLE CENTER. OVERCAST APPROX. 800 FEET. IMMEDIATE LEFT HAND TURN 265 DEGREES DIRECT FOT/V27. CLEARED FOG LAYER AT APPROX. 1500 FEET. CONTACTED SEATTLE CENTER 124.85 WHILE PASSING THRU 2300 FEET. WAS PROVIDED LOCAL ALTIMETER SETTING AND ALLOWED TO PROCEED AS FILED, CLIMB AND MAINTAIN 7000 FEET. 30 SECONDS AFTER THIS TRANSMISSION WAS COMPLETED, THERE WAS A DISTINCT CHANGE IN THE ENGINE NOISE, IRREGULAR AND SOME INCREASED VIBRATION. WITHIN SECONDS THE RPMS STARTED TO SLOWLY DIMINISH. THERE WAS A MILD DROP IN OIL PRESSURE HOWEVER OIL TEMP. WAS NORMAL. WITHIN ANOTHER 30 SECONDS, DURING WHICH BOTH MAGNETTOS WERE CHECKED AND SWITCHED FUEL TANKS. THE ENGINE SEIZED/STOPPED COMPLETELY INCLUDING PROPELLOR. PILOT PITCHED FOR BEST GLIDE SPEED (109 KNOTS), ANNOUNCED AN EMERGENCY AND REQUESTED A SUGGESTED HEADING REGARDING TERRAIN AND PRIVATE AIRSTRIP NEARBY (050 HEADING), ALMOST A 180 DEGREE TURN. THIS ALL TOOK PLACE VERY NEAR THE FOT VOR. RE-ENTERED FOG BANK. POPPED OUT ABOUT 700-750 FEET JUST NORTH OF THE LARGE MARSHY WETLANDS/NATURE PRESERVE. TURNED R BASE AND FINAL TO WHAT LOOKED LIKE A SMOOTH PART OF THE MARSH. SHUT OFF FUEL AND ELECTRICAL. TOUCHED DOWN SOFTLY BUT GROUND VERY SOFT AND BUMPY. WAS ABLE TO SLOW TO 30-40 KNOTS. NOSE WHEEL DUG INTO A TRENCH, IMMEDIATELY FLIPPING THE PLANE END OVER END, LEAVING THE PLANE PARALLEL TO ORIGINAL COURSE BUT BELLY UP. NO FUMES, NO FIRE. WAS EASILY ABLE TO KICK THE WINDOW OUT OF THE PILOT’S DOOR AND EXIT AIRCRAFT. ## 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 WPR24LA210](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR24LA210), Jun 20, 2024: Lancair LC42-550FG (N141PB), Humboldt Bay, CA, substantial damage. Probable cause: Maintenance personnel’s incorrect installation of an engine rocker cover gasket, which resulted in oil exhaustion and subsequent loss of engine power during the initial climb. 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.