# Accident 19980731019329A: Amrgen AA1A, Pointofwoods, NY, July 31, 1998 - Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported - Date: July 31, 1998, 19:00 local time - Place: Pointofwoods, NY - Damage: Substantial damage - Phase of flight: Fcd/Prec Ldg From Cruise - Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91) - Location: 40.7206° N, 73.2495° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.7206&lon=-73.2495&mi=10 - Aircraft: N9415L, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N9415L-2013-08-22) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry model: American AA-1A (registry code 0630710, https://openairdocs.org/model/american-aa-1a) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: Lycoming 0-235 series (registry code 41505, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-235-series) (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: AMRGEN AA1A - Fatal injuries: 0 - Pilot flight hours: 11,106 total, 40 in this make and model, 40 in the last 90 days - NTSB investigation: [NTSB NYC98LA159](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC98LA159) (OpenAirDocs) - FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/) - Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19980731019329A ## Narrative As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^. (.19)ON JULY 31, 1998, ABOUT 1900 EASTERN DAYLIGHT TIME, A GRUMMAN AMERICAN AA-1A, N9415L, WAS SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED DURING A FORCED LANDING AFTER IT EXPERIENCED AN IN-FLIGHT FIRE AND LOSS OF ENGINE POWER NEAR FIRE ISLAND PINES, NEW YORK. THE CERTIFICATED AIRLINE TRANSPORT RATED PILOT AND PASSENGER SUSTAINED MINOR INJURES. VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED, AND NO FLIGHT PLAN HAD BEEN FILED FOR THE FLIGHT THAT DEPARTED LONG ISLAND MAC ARTHUR AIRPORT, ISLIP, NEW YORK, DESTINED FOR REPUBLIC AIRPORT, FARMINGDALE, NEW YORK. THE PERSONAL FLIGHT WAS CONDUCTED UNDER 14 CFR PART 91. ACCORDING TO THE PILOT, HE WAS FLYING PARALLEL TO THE BEACH AT 1,300 FEET WHEN HE DECIDED TO DEMONSTRATE AN ENGINE FAILURE AND FORCED LANDING APPROACH FOR THE PASSENGER. THE PILOT FURTHER STATED: "...UPON TERMINATION OF THE DEMONSTRATION (AT 800 FEET), I APPLIED POWER TO RECOVER AND THE ENGINE RESPONDED BY RUNNING EXTREMELY ROUGH WITH POPPING AND COUGHING NOISES ACCOMPANIED BY AN EXREME VIBRATION. I REDUCED POWER, CHECKED THE SECURITY OF THE PRIMER SYSTEM, THE MIXTURE RICH, (I APPLIED) CARBURETOR HEAT ON WITH ADVERSE RESULTS. AT THIS TIME SMOKE STARTED ENTERING THE CABIN, SO I OPENED THE CANOPY . I TURNED THE FUEL BOOST PUMP ON AND SMOKE INTENSITY INCREASED 10 FOLD. I SECURED THE FUEL BOOST PUMP AND CLOSED BOTH CABIN VENTS. HOWEVER, SMOKE CONTINUED TO FILL THE CABIN..." THE PILOT PERFORMED A FORCED LANDING TO THE BEACH AND DURING THE TOUCHDOWN, THE AIRPLANE NOSED OVER. EXAMINATION OF THE WRECKAGE BY A FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION INSPECTOR REVEALED FIRE DAMAGE IN THE AREA OF THE CARBURETOR AIR INTAKE BOX. THE AIRPLANE'S FUEL LINES WERE INTACT AND NO EVIDENCE OF FUEL LEAKS WERE OBSERVED. THE CARBURETOR WAS RETAINED FOR FUTHER EXAMINATION. (-23)A/C DEPARTED ISP ENROUTE TO FRG WHEN SMOKE COMING FROM ENGINE AREA CAME INTO COCKPIT. PILOT FORCED LANDED A/C ON SAND ON BEACH SIDE OF "POINT OF WOODS AREA OF FIRE IS., NY". A/C FLIPPED OVER PINNING PILOT AND 1 PASSENGER IN A/C. CLAMES AND SMOKE EXTINGUISHED ON IMPACT. TWO WITNESSES LIFTED WING OF A/C FREEING PILOT AND PASSENGER. MINOR INJURIES SUBSTAINED TO PILOT AND PASSENGER. (.4) THE PILOT WAS DEMONSTRATING AN ENGINE FAILURE AND FORCED LANDING TO HIS PASSENGER. AT 800 FEET ABOVE GROUND LEVEL, THE PILOT APPLIED POWER TO REC OVER AND THE ENGINE RESPONDED BY RUNNING EXTREMELY ROUGH WITH POPPING AND COUGHING NOISES ACCOMPANIED BY VIBRATION. APPLICATION OF CARBURETOR HEAT AND USE OF THE FUEL BOOST PUMP AGGRAVATED THE SITUATION. WITH SMOKE ENTERING THE CABIN, THE PILOT PERFORMED A FORCED LANDING TO A BEACH, WHERE THE AIRPLANE NOSED OVER DURING TOUCHDOWN. EXAMINATION OF THE WRECKAGE REVEALED FIRE DAMAGE IN THE AREA OF THE CARBURETOR AIR INTAKE BOX. THE AIRPLANE'S FUEL LINES WERE INTACT AND NO EVIDENCE OF FUEL LEAKS WERE OBSERVED. DISASSEMBLY OF THE CARBURETOR REVEALED AN INCORRECT VENTURI, PART NUMBER 46-F12, WAS INSTALLED IN THE CARBURETOR. THE CORRECT VENTURI PART NUMBER WAS 46-F11. REVIEW OF THE AIRPLANE'S MAINTENANCE RECORDS REVEALED A TWO PIECE VENTURI WAS REMOVED FROM THE CARBURETOR AND A ONE PIECE VENTURI WAS INSTALLED ABOUT 50 HOURS PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT. ## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1) 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. - [NTSB NYC98LA159](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC98LA159), Jul 31, 1998: Grumman American AA-1A (N9415L), Point Of Woods, NY, substantial damage. Probable cause: Improper maintenance which resulted in the installation of an incorrect venturi and the subsequent loss of engine power. ## Other reports on N9415L (2) Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date. - [Incident 19970813027819I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19970813027819I), Aug 13, 1997: Gulstm AA1A (N9415L), Deerfield, NY. Narrative: on August 13, 1997 at approximately 1220, the pilot took off from remsen city airport (private), rensen, NY enroute to oneida county airport, utica,… - [Accident 19821010055729A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19821010055729A), Oct 10, 1982: Gulstm AA1A (N9415L), Jamestown, NY, Substantial damage. Student pilot made hard landing resulting in the nose wheel breaking off. From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record. --- 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.