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LAX83FVD04

1982-12-12 · FREMONT, California, United States · Serious · 1 aircraft · Status: Completed

N100WH has since been reassigned. It is now registered to a different aircraft (VAN'S AIRCRAFT RV-6A, built 1994), which was not involved in this event.

Aircraft involved

Factual narrative

UNABLE TO START THE ENG THE PLT REMOVED THE MAGNETO ASSISTED BY BYSTANDERS. AFTER FREEZING THE MAG IMPLUSE COUPLING HE REINSTALLED THE MAG. A BYSTANDER OFFERED TO TIGHTEN THE MAG MOUNTING BOLTS. THE ONLY TOOL AVAILALE WAS A PAIR OF PLIERS. THE MOUNTING BOLTS WERE RECESSED ALLEN HEADS & REQUIRE AN ALLEN WRENCH. THE PLOT DID NOT RECHECK THE PERSON WHO SAID HE HAD TIGHTENED THE BOLTS. AT LEAST ONE PERSON SUGGESTED TO THE PLT THAT HE LEAVE THE ACFT THERE UNTIL THE WORK COULD BE ACCOMPLISHED WITH THE PROPER TOOLS, & OFFERED THE PLT A RIDE IN HIS CAR. THE PLT DECLINED THE OFFER. AFTER TAKEOFF AT 200 FT AGL THE ENG QUIT & THE ACFT LANDED IN LEVEES. AT THE SCENE THE MAG MOVED WHEN THE PROP WAS ROTATED. THE TWO MAG MOUNTING BOLTS WERE VERY LOOSE. THE PLT SUFFERED SERIOUS INJURIES TO HIS BACK. THE ACFT DESIGN DID NOT PROVIDE ANY CRASHWORTHINESS IN THAT THE SEAT WAS ATTACHED DIRECTLY TO THE ACFT BELLY SKIN WITH NO PROVISION TO ABSORB IMPACT FORCES. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database (Pre-2008 Archive) Retrieved: 2026-02-12

Verbatim from NTSB's published report. Source file NTSB_1982_LAX83FVD04.txt. Findings + structured fields enriched from FAA avall.mdb. Full investigation docket on data.ntsb.gov ↗.

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