NTSB CAROL · Event
Event LAX88LA303
Registry · N2683B
FAA Aircraft Registry record.
Make / Model
JAVRON INC PA-18 REPLICA
Year of manufacture
2023
Engine
AEROSPORT IO-375M1S (205 hp)
Seats / Engines
2 seats · 1 engine
Last airworthiness date
20230630
ADS-B equipped
Yes — Mode-S A29F78
Registrant of record
STEPHENS BRANDON J
Source: FAA Aircraft Registry (releasable master file).
Aircraft involved
Probable cause & findings
MECHANICS FAILURE TO PROPERLY SECURE THE RIGHT ENGINE COWLING AFTER MAINTENANCE.
Factual narrative
THE CREW STATED THAT WHILE ON THE GROUND AT SAN FRANCISCO, OIL WAS ADDED TO THE RIGHT ENGINE BY A MECHANIC. THE CAPTAIN STATED HE SAW THE SIX LATCHES DOWN AND THE COWLING HALVES WERE FLUSH. THE FIRST OFFICER DID NOT GET OUT OF THE AIRPLANE AND CHECK THE COWLING SINCE THE CAPTAIN HAD BEEN OUTSIDE WITH THE MECHANIC. DURING CRUISE FLIGHT, THE TOP HALF OF THE RIGHT ENGINE COWLING SEPARATED FROM THE AIRPLANE. DURING SEPARATION, IT HIT THE CABIN WINDOW AT ROW 4 CAUSING IT TO BREAK & DEPRESSURIZE THE CABIN. A LADY SEATED AT 4C RECEIVED A CUT ON HER RIGHT FOREARM & HER PURSE WAS 'SUCKED OUT' THE OPENING. AN EXAM OF THE FAILED PARTS OF THE NACELLE REVEALED NO EVIDENCE OF PREEXISTING CRACKS. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database (Pre-2008 Archive) Retrieved: 2026-02-12
Verbatim from NTSB's published report. Source file
NTSB_1988_LAX88LA303.txt.
Findings + structured fields enriched from FAA avall.mdb.
Full investigation docket on
data.ntsb.gov ↗.
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Related research
What the literature says.
Academic papers and agency reports matching this event's aircraft type or causal vocabulary (maintenance). Sourced from NASA NTRS, NTSB Safety Studies, FAA CAMI, AOPA Air Safety Institute, Embry-Riddle Scholarly Commons, arXiv, and the Semantic Scholar academic graph.
- Embry-Riddle Scholarly Commons 2026 · Journal article (IJAAA)
From Reactive to Predictive: A hybrid Trust-Mediated Adoption Framework for Data-Driven Maintenance in Distributed-Authority Aviation Environments
Modern aviation maintenance operates within increasingly data-intensive technological environments, yet the operational integration of predictive maintenance into routine decision-making remains incon…
- Semantic Scholar 2025 · Article (Applied Sciences)
Decision-Making Framework for Aviation Safety in Predictive Maintenance Strategies
The implementation of predictive maintenance (PM) in aviation presents unique challenges due to strict safety requirements, complex operational environments, and regulatory constraints.
- Embry-Riddle Scholarly Commons 2024 · Journal article (JAAER)
Low-Resource Automatic Speech Recognition Domain Adaptation – A Case-Study in Aviation Maintenance
With timeliness and efficiency being critical in the aviation maintenance industry, the need has been growing for smart technological solutions that optimize and streamline the different underlying ta…
- Embry-Riddle Scholarly Commons 2024 · Journal article (JAAER)
A New Trajectory in UAV Safety: Leveraging Reinforcement Learning for Distance Maintenance Under Wind Variations
In the field of aviation, safety is a critical cornerstone, and the operation of Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) systems is deeply connected with this principle.
- Embry-Riddle Scholarly Commons 2024 · Journal article (IJAAA)
Just Culture in Aviation: A Metaphorical Study on Aircraft Maintenance Students
Just Culture, a sub-dimension of safety culture, has been a prominent and debated topic in aviation safety in recent years.
- Embry-Riddle Scholarly Commons 2024 · Journal article (IJAAA)
Performance PRISM: A Comprehensive Framework For Performance Measurement In Aircraft Maintenance
Aircraft maintenance is governed by rigorous safety requirements and high operational complexity, demanding robust performance measurement frameworks to ensure optimal maintenance practices.
Browse the full corpus — academia portal ↗