# NTSB LAX82FUD04: Piper PA-28R-201, N9342C, Hawthorne, CA, August 14, 1982

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Final report
- Date: August 13, 1982, 19:24 local (Aug 14, 1982, 02:24 UTC)
- Place: Hawthorne, CA
- Coordinates: 33.910278, -118.340454 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.9103&lon=-118.3405&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report August 13, 1983
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 70983
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX82FUD04
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/70983/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX82FUD04

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Loss of engine power(partial) - mech failure/malf, approach - vfr pattern - final approach
  - fuel system,injector - improper (cause)
  - fluid,fuel - erratic (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, approach - vfr pattern - final approach

## Analysis

THE ACFT CRASHED ON FINAL APPROACH AFTER THE ENGINE LOST POWER. THE PLT STATED THAT ON FINAL THE ENGINE BACKFIRED, LOST POWER AND WOULD NOT RESPOND TO THROTTLE MOVEMENT. THE ENGINE HAD BEEN THE SUBJECT OF PREVIOUS WRITE-UPS & WORK ORDERS, WHICH INCLUDED FUEL PRESSURE FLUCTUATION, ROUGH ENGINE, BAD FUEL PUMP, ENGINE DIES AT IDLE AND RICH MIXTURE. ON THE DAY OF THE ACCCIDENT THE FUEL INJECTION UNIT WAS REMOVED FOR OVERHAUL AND REPLACED. DURING POST ACCIDENT TESTING THE ENGINE RAN BUT BECAME EXCESSIVELY RICH. MANUAL LEAN GAVE A SIGNIFICANT RISE IN RPM. LATER TESTING OF THE FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM REVEALED THE UNIT OPERATED ERRATICALLY AND WAS RICH AT LOWER PRESSURES.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N9342C](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N9342C-2014-11-24), registration cancelled 2014-11-24, S/N 28R-7837192, built 1978 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28R-201
- Registry model: [Piper PA-28R-201](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28r-201) (registry code 7102816) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming I0360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-i0360-series) (registry code 41515, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 28R-7837192
- Airframe hours: 1872
- Engines: LYCOMING IO-360 180 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: R.T.K. Chan
- Registered owner: R.T.K. Chan
- Departed: HHR, HAWTHORNE, CA
- Destination: HHR, HAWTHORNE, CA
- Airport: HHR, Hawthorne, runway 25, 5,000 × 100 ft, concrete

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 25; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; flight hours: 279 total, 31 in this make and model, 180 as pilot in command, 27 in the last 90 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 260° at 15 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Temperature: 151 °F
- Observed at: LAX, 5 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 19820813038329A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19820813038329A), Aug 13, 1982: Piper PA28R201, Hawthorne, CA, Substantial damage. Engine quit on final. Unable to make runway. Crash landed in a parking lot. Aircraft had numerous prior sqawks.

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.

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