# NTSB LAX08CA094: Ercoupe 415-D, N3942H, Riverside, CA, March 20, 2008 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: March 20, 2008, 14:30 local (21:30 UTC) - Place: Riverside, CA - Coordinates: 33.988887, -117.410003 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.9889&lon=-117.4100&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Initial climb: Fuel contamination](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/193) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report April 30, 2008 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 67784 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX08CA094 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/67784/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX08CA094 ## Probable cause Water contamination of the fuel system due to the pilot's inadequate preflight and failure to adequately drain the water from the fuel system. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Inspection: preflight inspection](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061510): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Ercoupe 415-D, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061510/cases.md?model=0420326), [All aircraft, 551 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061510/cases.md) - [Terrain: rough terrain](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021015): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Not specified (probable cause); cases with it: [Ercoupe 415-D, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021015/cases.md?model=0420326), [All aircraft, 442 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021015/cases.md) - [Fluids: fuel](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010): Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware · Incorrect service/maintenance (probable cause); cases with it: [Ercoupe 415-D, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md?model=0420326), [All aircraft, 1,695 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Initial climb: Fuel contamination](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/193) (defining event); cases with it: [Ercoupe 415-D, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/193/sequence.md?model=0420326), [All aircraft, 225 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/193/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Ercoupe 415-D, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=0420326), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot fueled the airplane, sumped the wing tanks, and departed. The engine lost power at the end of the runway on climb out. He made a forced landing on the grass infield of the airport. The nose wheel went into a gopher hole, and the airplane nosed forward. Post crash examination established that the firewall sustained damage. The pilot reported that he also found water in the gascolator, and that the water most likely got into the fuel system during recent rains. He opined that a more thorough preflight could have prevented the accident. ## Factual narrative On March 20, 2008, about 1430 Pacific daylight time, an Ercoupe 415-D, N3942H, made an off airport forced landing following takeoff from Flabob Airport, Riverside, California. The pilot was operating the airplane under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 91. The certificated airline transport pilot was not injured. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the firewall. The personal cross-country flight was en route to Santa Monica, California. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed. The pilot reported that he fueled the airplane with 12 gallons of gas, sumped the wing tanks, and departed from runway 24. The engine lost power at the end of the runway on climb out. He made a forced landing on the grass infield of the airport. The nose wheel went into a gopher hole, and the airplane nosed forward. Post crash examination established that the firewall sustained damage. The pilot reported that he also found water in the gascolator; he said that it had recently rained. He opined that a more thorough preflight could have prevented the accident. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N3942H](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N3942H-2010-11-03), registration cancelled 2010-11-03, S/N 4643, built 1947 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Ercoupe (Eng & Research Corp.) 415-D - Registry model: [Ercoupe 415-D](https://openairdocs.org/model/ercoupe-415-d) (registry code 0420326) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental A&C75 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-a-c75-series) (registry code 17005, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 4643 - Engines: Teledyne Continental C-85 85 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Franklyn C Freeman - Registered owner: Thomas W Wathen Trustee - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: RIR, Riverside, CA - Destination: SMO, Santa Monica, CA - Airport: RIR, Flabob, runway 24, 3,200 × 50 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 55; injuries: none; flight instructor, airline transport, commercial, private; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2; last flight review June 1, 2007; flight hours: 2,500 total, 65 in this make and model, 2,350 as pilot in command, 15 in the last 90 days, 10 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 260° at 10 knots - Visibility: 7 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 70 °F, dew point 45 °F - Altimeter: 30.09 inHg - Observed at: CNO, 11 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 20080320832509A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20080320832509A), Mar 20, 2008: Univar 415D, Riverside/Rubi, CA, Substantial damage. (-23) During take off roll from rwy 24, the engine started to miss compression (engine sputtering). The pilot was able to get airborne and make a 180 degree… 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.