# NTSB LAX01LA107: Christian Rans S-12, N12FC, Ramona, CA, March 3, 2001 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: March 3, 2001, 09:30 local (17:30 UTC) - Place: Ramona, CA - Coordinates: 33.069965, -116.829132 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.0700&lon=-116.8291&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report July 30, 2001 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 51853 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX01LA107 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/51853/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX01LA107 ## Probable cause The in-flight failure of the engine crankshaft for undetermined reasons. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(total) - mech failure/malf, cruise - engine assembly,crankshaft - failure (cause) - Forced landing, emergency descent/landing - terrain condition - mountainous/hilly - In flight collision with object, emergency landing - object - tree(s) ## Analysis According to the pilot, the engine lost power while in cruise flight. He attempted to land in a small canyon, or ravine area, and was unable to avoid a single tree that was directly in front of him in the center of the ravine. The left wing struck the tree and the right wing was bent when it struck the ground. The pilot, who is also the builder of the airplane, inspected the engine and found a broken crankshaft at the number 1 piston rod attach point. The engine had oil and no other anomalies were observed. The pilot reported that the engine was overhauled 20 hours prior to the accident. The manufacturer of the engine stated that the engine life for this model is 300 hours or 5 years. The engine in the accident airplane was manufactured on March 10, 1991. The manufacturer said they have no service history of crankshaft failures in this particular model engine. The crankshaft is required to be replaced at each overhaul. The engine was overhauled at a facility that only provides engines for ultralight aircraft. The owner of the facility stated that he does not approve of the use of his engines in certified airplanes. He said he recalled overhauling this engine but could not remember the date, and does not believe the crankshaft was replaced. The crankshaft was not provided for metallurgical examination. ## Factual narrative On March 3, 2001, at 0930 hours Pacific standard time, an experimental Christian Rans S-12, N12FC, was substantially damaged when it struck a tree during a forced landing in a ravine following a loss of engine power approximately 4 nautical miles east of the Ramona, California, airport. The private pilot was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed during the flight, which was conducted by the owner under 14 CFR Part 91. The airplane departed Barona, an uncharted private airstrip at 0900, and no flight plan was filed. According to the pilot, the engine failed while in cruise flight. He attempted to land in a small canyon, or ravine area, and was unable to avoid a single tree that was directly in front of him in the center of the ravine. The left wing struck the tree and the right wing was bent when it struck the ground. The pilot, who is also the builder of the airplane, inspected the engine and found a broken crankshaft at the number 1 piston rod attach point. The engine had oil and no other anomalies were observed. The manufacturer of the engine stated that the engine life for this model is 300 hours or 5 years. The engine in the accident airplane was manufactured on March 10, 1991. According to the manufacturer, they have no history of crankshaft failures in this engine model. The crankshaft is required to be replaced at each overhaul. According to the pilot/operator report, the engine had 20 hours since the last overhaul at the time of the accident. The engine was overhauled at a facility that only provides engines for ultralight airplanes. The owner of the facility stated that he does not approve of the use of his engines in certified airplanes. He reported that he remembered overhauling this engine, but does not recall the date, and does not believe that the crankshaft was replaced. The crankshaft was not provided for metallurgical examination. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N12FC](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N12FC-2013-05-16), registration cancelled 2013-05-16, S/N 1091137 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Christian Rans S-12 - Registry model: [Christian Fred M RANS S 12](https://openairdocs.org/model/christian-fred-m-rans-s-12) (registry code 05606NB) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 1091137 - Airframe hours: 320 - Engines: Rotax 582 65 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Fred M. Christian - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Condition, February 15, 2001, 20 hours before - Departed: NONE, Barona, CA - Destination: NONE ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 37; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; last flight review June 28, 1999; seat: rear; flight hours: 200 total, 150 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 0° at 6 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Temperature: 57 °F, dew point 50 °F - Altimeter: 29.97 inHg - Observed at: CRQ, 24 nm away ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20010303003419A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20010303003419A), Mar 3, 2001: Amtr RANSS12, Ramona, CA, Substantial damage. (-19) On March 3, 2001, at 0930 hours pacific standard time, an experimental christian rans S-12, N12FC, was substantially damaged when it struck a tree during… 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. --- 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.