# NTSB LAX84LA413: Ercoupe 415-CD, N3514H, Pacoima, CA, July 23, 1984

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: July 23, 1984, 13:00 local (20:00 UTC)
- Place: Pacoima, CA
- Coordinates: 34.249576, -118.409957 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.2496&lon=-118.4100&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 24353
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX84LA413
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/24353/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX84LA413

## Sequence of events

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

- Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown
  - flare - improper, pilot in command (cause)
  - recovery from bounced landing - improper, pilot in command (cause)
  - lack of total experience, pilot in command
- Nose gear collapsed, landing
  - landing gear,nose gear - overload

## Analysis

THE STUDENT PLT REPORTED THAT WHEN HE LANDED, 'THE NOSE HIT 1ST & A BIT HARD CAUSING A BALLOON. THEN THE PLANE AGAIN CAME DOWN HARD & BALLOONED. THIS HAPPENED ABOUT 3 TIMES BEFORE THE PLANE STOPPED & WENT ON THE NOSE.' THE NOSE GEAR COLLAPSED DURING THE OCCURRENCE.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N3514H](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N3514H-2012-09-18), registration cancelled 2012-09-18, S/N 4139, built 1946 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Ercoupe (Eng & Research Corp.) 415-CD
- Registry model: [Ercoupe 415-CD](https://openairdocs.org/model/ercoupe-415-cd) (registry code 0420324) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental C85 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-c85-series) (registry code 17008, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 4139
- Airframe hours: 1489
- Engines: CONTINENTAL C-85-12F 85 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Operator: John Brown
- Registered owner: Pau Curtis And James Mcfadden
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, June 9, 1984, 30 hours before
- Departed: VNY, VAN NUYS, CA
- Airport: WHP, Whiteman, runway 12, 3,725 × 40 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 27; student; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 76 total, 31 in this make and model, 23 as pilot in command, 49 in the last 90 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 120° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 2,500 ft broken
- Temperature: 77 °F, dew point 64 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: VNY, 7 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 19840723036309A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19840723036309A), Jul 23, 1984: Univar 415CD, Pacoima, CA, Substantial damage. Student pilot made hand landing damaging nose wheel.

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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