# NTSB LAX83FA398: Champion 7GCAA, N100ES, La Jolla, CA, August 21, 1983

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: August 21, 1983, 14:10 local (21:10 UTC)
- Place: La Jolla, CA
- Coordinates: 32.860282, -117.239761 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.8603&lon=-117.2398&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 23497
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX83FA398
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/23497/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX83FA398

## 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, maneuvering
  - engine assembly,ring - failure,partial (cause)
  - maintenance,inspection - inadequate, other maintenance personnel (cause)
  - engine assembly,valve,intake - fatigue (cause)
  - engine assembly - foreign object damage (cause)
- Forced landing, maneuvering - turn to reverse direction
  - load jettison - performed, pilot in command
- Loss of control - in flight, maneuvering - turn to landing area (emergency)
  - airspeed - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - stall - inadvertent, pilot in command
- In flight collision with terrain/water, maneuvering - turn to landing area (emergency)

## Analysis

PRIOR TO DEPARTURE, THE ACFT WAS OBSERVED BEING RUN UP WITH THE ENG SPUTTERING & BACKFIRING QUITE BADLY. THE ACFT RETURNED TO THE HANGER & 3 LOWER PLUGS WERE CHANGED. THE FLT WAS THEN RESUMED. THE ACFT WAS NEXT OBSERVED OFF SHORE, WITH THE ENG SPUTTERING & MISSING, & THE BANNER HAVING BEEN RELEASED. THE ACFT THEN PITCHED UP, STALLED & STRUCK THE WATER. ENG EXAMINATION REVEALED NUMEROUS MECHANICAL DISCREPANCIES. THE #4 EXHAUST VALVE FAILED IN FATIGUE. THE RIGHT EXHAUST FLAME TUBE WAS DETERIORATED & SEPARATED WITH PARTS MISSING WHICH WERE LARGER THAN THE OPENING IN THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD. 4/5 OF THE #2 PISTON CAP SKIRT WAS MISSING. THE #2 SCRAPER RING ON THE #2 PISTON WAS BROKEN IN HALF. THE #4 EXHAUST CAM LOBE WAS WORN TO ABOUT 1/2 ITS NORMAL HEIGHT. THE #4 EXHAUST CAM FOLLOWER FACE WAS CONCAVED & PITTED. THE OIL PUMP HOUSING & GEARS SHOWED SCRATCH MARKS SUGGESTIVE OF METAL CONTANINATION.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N100ES (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: CHAMPION 7GCAA
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 229-70
- Airframe hours: 3421
- Engines: LYCOMING O-320-A2B 150 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Part 91
- Registered owner: Duke L. Prichard
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, September 1, 1982, 166 hours before
- Departed: SEE, EL CAJON, CA

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 29; private, commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: front; toxicology performed; flight hours: 1,878 total, 20 in this make and model, 45 in the last 90 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 250° at 14 knots
- Visibility: 40 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: -0 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: CRO, 14 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 19830821070799A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19830821070799A), Aug 21, 1983: Bbavia 7GCAA, La Jolla, CA, Destroyed. Engine failure offshore. Dropped banner but stalled. Dove into ocean. Found extensive defects from worn out engine.

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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