Nicholson LANCAIR 320 N364M

Summary

On 30 December 2002 at about 19:48 local time, a Nicholson LANCAIR 320 registered N364M was involved in an accident near Corona, California, United States. One person was on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

30 December 2002 at 19:48

Classification

Accident

Location

Corona, California, United States

Coordinates

33.8833, -117.6000

Aircraft

Nicholson LANCAIR 320

Registration

N364M

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Chino → Murrieta/Temecu

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

LAX03LA056

Nobody was injured.

The pilot/builder's improper maintenance procedure for reattaching a high-pressure oil line, which resulted in the oil line disconnecting during flight, followed by a loss of oil and engine seizure.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

The day before the accident the pilot/builder of the experimental airplane had installed an air/oil separator on the airplane. In the process, he had removed a high-pressure oil line from the oil cooler and then reattached it "firmly" with a screw clamp "as best he could." A taxi test was conducted with the engine cowling removed to check for oil leaks, and none were found. During climb out, at 6,500 feet, the engine lost oil pressure, and the pilot decided to make an emergency landing on an interstate highway. During final approach, the engine seized, and the airplane struck the roof of a motor home and came to rest on its belly. According to the pilot, the engine seized after the "hi presssure oil line to oil cooler was pushed or pulled off, draining all oil" from the engine.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.