# NTSB LAX95LA309: Josephson MC-15 Cricket, N128HJ, San Diego, CA, August 29, 1995 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 28, 1995, 17:50 local (Aug 29, 1995, 00:50 UTC) - Place: San Diego, CA - Location: 32.7153° N, 117.1573° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of San Diego, CA, within about 10 miles (OpenAirDocs) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.7153&lon=-117.1573&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report November 30, 1995 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 29198 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX95LA309 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/29198/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX95LA309 ## Probable cause the failure of the left engine due to inadequate maintenance of the ignition system. ## 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, cruise - 1 engine - ignition system,low tension wiring - chafed (cause) - ignition system,low tension wiring - shorted (cause) - ignition system,high tension wiring - deteriorated (cause) - maintenance,annual inspection - inadequate, other maintenance personnel (cause) - Forced landing, emergency descent/landing - terrain condition - none suitable - In flight collision with terrain/water, emergency descent/landing - terrain condition - water ## Analysis APPROXIMATELY 4 MILES FROM THE DEPARTURE RUNWAY, THE LEFT ENGINE STOPPED ON THE TWO-ENGINE, AMATEUR-BUILT AIRCRAFT. THE PILOT ALTERED COURSE TOWARD HIS DESTINATION, BUT FOUND HE WAS UNABLE TO MAINTAIN ALTITUDE ON THE REMAINING ENGINE AND ELECTED TO ATTEMPT AN OFF-AIRPORT LANDING ON A NEARBY ISLAND. THE PILOT WAS UNABLE TO REACH THE LANDING SITE AND LANDED THE LANDPLANE IN THE WATER APPROXIMATELY 50 FEET OFFSHORE. INSPECTION OF THE FAILED ENGINE REVEALED THAT THE SINGLE IGNITION SYSTEM WAS INOPERATIVE DUE TO A CHAFFED PRIMARY WIRE WHICH HAD SHORT CIRCUITED TO THE ENGINE MOUNT. THE SECONDARY IGNITION WIRE WAS ALSO IN A DETERIORATED CONDITION. THE AIRCRAFT HAD RECEIVED AN ANNUAL INSPECTION AND HAD BEEN APPROVED FOR RETURN TO SERVICE 1 WEEK PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT AND HAD ACCUMULATED 2.4 HOURS SINCE INSPECTION. ## Factual narrative On August 28, 1995, at 1750 hours Pacific daylight time, a Josephson MC-15 Cricket, N128HJ, was substantially damaged during a forced landing on water at San Diego, California, following a loss of engine power in cruise flight. The single seat, amateur built landplane, powered by two 15-horsepower, two-stroke engines, was piloted by a private pilot on the personal, 14 CFR Part 91 flight. No flight plan was filed and visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. No injuries were sustained by the pilot. The flight departed from Miramar Naval Air Station, San Diego, California, at 1738. The pilot reported that approximately 4 miles from the departure runway, the left engine stopped running and he turned the aircraft to a southeasterly heading toward his destination at Montgomery Field, San Diego. The pilot was unable to maintain altitude on the remaining engine and, upon determining that he would be unable to reach his destination, altered course toward the Mission Bay aquatic recreation area with the intention of landing on Fiesta Island. The pilot stated that after altering course toward Mission Bay, increased headwinds prevented him from reaching Fiesta Island and he ditched the aircraft in the bay, approximately 50 feet from shore. The aircraft was examined following recovery from the bay by an FAA airworthiness inspector from the San Diego Flight Standards District Office. He reported that inspection of the left-hand engine revealed that the sole (single) ignition system was inoperative. Further investigation found that the primary ignition wire was worn (chaffed) through and was shorted against the engine mount structure. The secondary ignition (spark plug) wires were also determined to be in an unserviceable condition. An annual inspection had been completed and the aircraft approved for return to service 1 week prior to the accident, and the aircraft had accumulated 2.4 hours since inspection. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N128HJ](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N128HJ-2013-08-13), registration cancelled 2013-08-13, S/N 12-0128, built 1984 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: JOSEPHSON MC-15 CRICKET (MC-15 CRIC) - Registry model: [Josephson Howard C JR CRICKET MC-15](https://openairdocs.org/model/josephson-howard-c-jr-cricket-mc-15) (registry code 0564994) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Amateur-built UNKNOWN ENG](https://openairdocs.org/engine/amateur-built-unknown-eng) (registry code 99999) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 12-0128 - Airframe hours: 114 - Engines: JPX 212 15 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Mike Gretton - Registered owner: Charles Webber - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, August 19, 1995, 2 hours before - Departed: NKX, MIRAMAR NAS, CA - Destination: MYF, CA ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 30; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: front; flight hours: 387 total, 2 in this make and model, 317 as pilot in command, 10 in the last 90 days, 6 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 330° at 8 knots - Visibility: 40 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 79 °F, dew point 54 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: MYF, 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 19950828025909A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19950828025909A), Aug 28, 1995: Amtr MC15CRICKET, San Diego, CA, Substantial damage. Left engine quit on climbout mnas. Unable sustain flight on one engine. Ditched in bay. Ignition wires shorted. 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.