Ercoupe 415 N3437H

Summary

On 25 February 2020 at about 20:20 local time, a Ercoupe 415 registered N3437H was involved in an accident near Torrance, California, United States. 2 people were 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

25 February 2020 at 20:20

Classification

Accident

Location

Torrance, California, United States

Nearest airport

Zamperini Field (TOA)

Coordinates

33.8031, -118.3381

Aircraft

Ercoupe 415

Registration

N3437H

Category

Airplane

Year built

1946

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Torrance → Torrance

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

WPR20LA094

Nobody was injured.

The partial loss of power due to a malfunction of the throttle cable, which limited movement of the throttle body.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

While the pilot was conducting touch-and-go takeoffs and landings, the airplane’s engine lost partial power about 200 ft above ground level and began surging. The pilot performed a 90° left turn to land on a taxiway. After touchdown, the airplane veered left and collided with two parked airplanes. Examination revealed that manipulation of the throttle control in the cockpit did not correspond with the complete butterfly valve deflection in the throttle body. The limited motion of the throttle cable was likely the result of the movement of the cable’s outer housing (sheath) and/or loose rigging resulting in the cable bowing.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.