What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
On 6/12/2025 at approximately 2:30PM privacy data omitted the private pilot of Scoda Aeronautica Ltda, possesing a special light sport (airplane) certificate, was returning from a 30 min planned flight departing and returning to ktoa for a recreation part 91 flight.
Briefly after establishing initial communications with ktoa tower (over the port of la) within the outer se corner of their delta airspace, the engine started vibrating violently. The pilot was at approximately 1000' and unable to get thrust from the engine while it was shaking. The pilot immediately declared a mayday and told torrance tower that he would be landing in la harbor. Thereafter, his focus was bringing the plane to water and he executed a soft landing and shut down all power to the aircraft. The aircraft sustained minor damage to one of the three propeller blades. Additionally, the ELT whip antennae was no longer attached to the aircraft. The aircraft was towed from the harbor to cabrillo beach boat ramp.
As the FAA filed it
ON 6/12/2025 AT APPROXIMATELY 2:30PM ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ THE PRIVATE PILOT OF SCODA AERONAUTICA LTDA, POSSESING A SPECIAL LIGHT SPORT (AIRPLANE) CERTIFICATE, WAS RETURNING FROM A 30 MIN PLANNED FLIGHT DEPARTING AND RETURNING TO KTOA FOR A RECREATION PART 91 FLIGHT.
BRIEFLY AFTER ESTABLISHING INITIAL COMMUNICATIONS WITH KTOA TOWER (OVER THE PORT OF LA) WITHIN THE OUTER SE CORNER OF THEIR DELTA AIRSPACE, THE ENGINE STARTED VIBRATING VIOLENTLY. THE PILOT WAS AT APPROXIMATELY 1000' AND UNABLE TO GET THRUST FROM THE ENGINE WHILE IT WAS SHAKING. THE PILOT IMMEDIATELY DECLARED A MAYDAY AND TOLD TORRANCE TOWER THAT HE WOULD BE LANDING IN LA HARBOR. THEREAFTER, HIS FOCUS WAS BRINGING THE PLANE TO WATER AND HE EXECUTED A SOFT LANDING AND SHUT DOWN ALL POWER TO THE AIRCRAFT. THE AIRCRAFT SUSTAINED MINOR DAMAGE TO ONE OF THE THREE PROPELLER BLADES. ADDITIONALLY, THE ELT WHIP ANTENNAE WAS NO LONGER ATTACHED TO THE AIRCRAFT. THE AIRCRAFT WAS TOWED FROM THE HARBOR TO CABRILLO BEACH BOAT RAMP.