# NTSB LAX03LA056: Nicholson Lancair 320, N364M, Corona, CA, December 30, 2002 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: December 30, 2002, 11:48 local (19:48 UTC) - Place: Corona, CA - Coordinates: 33.883335, -117.599998 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.8833&lon=-117.6000&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 29, 2004 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 56274 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX03LA056 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/56274/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX03LA056 ## Probable cause The pilot/builder's improper maintenance procedure for reattaching a high-pressure oil line, which resulted in the oil line disconnecting during flight, followed by a loss of oil and engine seizure. ## 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, climb - maintenance,installation - improper, owner/pilot mechanic (cause) - lubricating system,oil line - disconnected (cause) - fluid,oil - loss,total (cause) - powerplant - seized (cause) - Forced landing, emergency descent/landing - In flight collision with object, emergency descent/landing - object - vehicle ## Analysis The day before the accident the pilot/builder of the experimental airplane had installed an air/oil separator on the airplane. In the process, he had removed a high-pressure oil line from the oil cooler and then reattached it "firmly" with a screw clamp "as best he could." A taxi test was conducted with the engine cowling removed to check for oil leaks, and none were found. During climb out, at 6,500 feet, the engine lost oil pressure, and the pilot decided to make an emergency landing on an interstate highway. During final approach, the engine seized, and the airplane struck the roof of a motor home and came to rest on its belly. According to the pilot, the engine seized after the "hi presssure oil line to oil cooler was pushed or pulled off, draining all oil" from the engine. ## Factual narrative On December 30, 2002, at 1148 Pacific standard time, an experimental Nicholson Lancair 320, N364M, experienced a loss of oil pressure during climb, and made a forced landing on Interstate 15, south of the 91 freeway and Interstate 15 interchange, near Corona, California. The airplane sustained substantial damage when it collided with a motor home during the final approach. The pilot/builder/owner operated the airplane under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91. The pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured, and there were no ground injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the local cross-country flight that departed the Chino Municipal Airport (CNO) at 1130. The flight was scheduled to terminate at the French Valley Airport (F70), Murrieta/Temecula, California, and no flight plan had been filed. The pilot reported that he had installed an air/oil separator the day before the accident. To install the air/oil separator he removed one end of the high-pressure oil line to the oil cooler. After the unit was installed, he reattached and "firmly tightened" the screw clamp as "best he could." He then taxied the airplane with the engine cowling off for a 1/2 hour to check for oil leaks. The pilot stated that on the day of the accident, there was "the usual taxi and warm-up" prior to takeoff. No discrepancies were noted with the oil pressure gage during this time. The pilot departed CNO, and was at 6,500 feet en route to F70 when he started to smell oil in the cockpit. The pilot looked at his gages and noted that he was losing oil pressure. He decided to make an emergency landing on the Interstate. On final approach, the engine seized, and the airplane struck the roof of a motor home and came to rest on its belly. According to the pilot, the engine seized after the "hi presssure oil line to oil cooler was pushed or pulled off, draining all oil" from the engine. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N364M](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N364M-2003-03-19), registration cancelled 2003-03-19, S/N 001, built 1998 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: NICHOLSON LANCAIR 320 - Registry model: [Nicholson Kenneth F LANCAIR 320](https://openairdocs.org/model/nicholson-kenneth-f-lancair-320) (registry code 05604H2) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming I0-360-B1E](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-i0-360-b1e) (registry code 41559, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 1 - Airframe hours: 22 - Engines: Lycoming IO360-B1B 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Kenneth F. Nicholson - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Departed: CNO, CHINO, CA - Destination: F70, MURRIETA/TEMECU, CA ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 83; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; last flight review April 3, 2002; seat: left; flight hours: 2,183 total, 21 in this make and model, 1,291 as pilot in command, 13 in the last 90 days, 4 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 9 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 57 °F, dew point 43 °F - Altimeter: 30.22 inHg - Observed at: CNO, 25 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 20021230034149A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20021230034149A), Dec 30, 2002: Amtr LANCAIR320, Corona, CA, Destroyed. (-23) Aircraft had suffered oil depletion and resultant engine seizure that caused the pilot to make a forced landing. Oil line from engine to oil cooler was… 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.