# NTSB LAX85LA208: Huff SA-300, N9BH, Van Nuys, CA, April 17, 1985

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: April 17, 1985, 14:57 local (22:57 UTC)
- Place: Van Nuys, CA
- Coordinates: 34.189128, -118.490036 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.1891&lon=-118.4900&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 24697
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX85LA208
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/24697/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX85LA208

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of engine power, climb
  - reason for occurrence undetermined (cause)
- Forced landing, descent - emergency
- In flight collision with object, descent - emergency
  - object - tree(s)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled

## Analysis

THE ACFT COLLIDED WITH TREES PRIOR TO GRND CONTACT AFTER THE ENG REPORTEDLY QUIT ABOUT 20 MIN AFTER TAKEOFF. THE ACFT REPORTEDLY HAD MORE THAN 29 GALLONS OF FUEL ON BOARD. THE ACFT HAS 3 FUEL TANKS. THE FUEL SELECTOR HAD BEEN CHANGED SEVERAL TIMES DURING ATTEMPTED RESTARTS AFTER THE ENG QUIT. THE CARBURETOR WAS REMOVED FROM THE ACFT AND TESTED SATISFACTORILY. THE FUEL STRAINER AND POPPET VALVE WERE FREE OF CONTAMINATION. NO REASON FOR THE FAILURE WAS FOUND DURING THE TESTS.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N9BH (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: HUFF SA-300
- Category: Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number: 1095
- Engines: CONTINENTAL O-470 225 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: John Gamble
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special)
- Airport: VNY, Van Nuys

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 43; airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: front; flight hours: 16,447 total, 6 in this make and model, 16,075 as pilot in command, 185 in the last 90 days, 4 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 270° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 25 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 3,900 ft broken
- Temperature: 61 °F, dew point 46 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: VNY, 3 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 19850417016059A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19850417016059A), Apr 17, 1985: Amtrso STARDUSTER2, Van Nuys, CA, Destroyed. Engine ran intermittently, then quit. Struck trees turning towards field. Cause for malfunction is unknown.

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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