20021012028609A

(.19) On October 12, 2002, at 0840 mountain standard time, a Grumman AA-5A, N9566U, crashed into a mobile home park about 1 mile west of the deer valley airport (dvt), Phoenix, Arizona. The pilot was operating the borrowed airplane under the provisions of 14 CFR part 91. The private pilot, the sole occupant, sustained fatal injuries; the airplane was destroyed. The flight departed dvt at 0832; the purpose of the flight and destination were unknown. Day visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed. The primary wreckage was at 33 degrees 41.202 minutes north latitude and 112 degrees 06.857 minutes west longitude. Deer valley air traffic control tower (ATCT) personnel reported that the pilot asked for a right downwind departure, and they cleared him for takeoff at 0832. A few minutes later the pilot reported that he was returning with a problem, but he did not declare an emergency. The pilot made a second transmission and said that he had no oil pressure. At 0840, the pilot transmitted that he was landing just west of a freeway. ATCT personnel did not hear another transmission from the pilot. A ground witness about 4 miles from the airport reported that they heard the engine backfiring. A ground witness about 2 miles from the airport observed the airplane at low level and the propeller was not turning, its blades were at the 3 o'clock and 9 o'clock positions. A resident of the mobile home park observed the airplane bank left and go nose down vertically into a mobile home. The airplane caught fire, which spread to adjacent mobile homes. The resident stated that the pilot extricated himself from the airplane and moved away from the wreckage, but he was engulfed in flames. The resident soaked a blanket in water and went to assist the pilot. He got the pilot away from the flames and covered the pilot with the blanket; however, the pilot succumbed to his injuries. Investigators from the safety board, the federal aviation administration (FAA), and Textron Lycoming examined the wreckage. They removed the engine from the wreckage and slung it from a hoist. They removed the top and bottom spark plugs. The electrodes were circular, not mechanically damaged, and the gaps were similar. The electrodes were gray in color, which corresponded to normal operation according to the champion AV-27 check-a-plug chart. The ignition harness was destroyed by fire. The magnetos were secure on their mounts, but both magnetos sustained thermal damage to their housings. The aluminum oil sump was consumed by fire; however, the steel quick drain was recovered. It was at maximum extension (closed) and the o-ring was in place. Safety wire was secured to the nut and formed a loop at the opposite end. The oil sump screen was clean, but there was melted metal on one rim at the end of the screen. All oil lines, including the pressure line to the gauge, were accounted for but they all sustained thermal damage. All oil line b-nuts on the accessory housing were secure. The oil cooler was consumed by fire. The oil pump had metal material burnished and extruded at the drive gear thrust surface. There was no scoring on the internal housing, the gears were undamaged, and the pump drive meshed with the crankshaft interface. The main oil pressure screen was clean. The main bearings' tangs were undamaged and the bearings were on their respective dowels. All connecting rods rotated freely on the crankshaft, but all had fore and aft movement as well as lateral play. All connecting rod bearings exhibited some extrusion. Cylinder no. 1 connecting rod bearing extruded the most; it had the most metal transfer from the bearing to the journal. The amount of extrusion progressively decreased from cylinder no. 1 to no. 4. (-23) aircraft departed dvt, (no flight plan filed) for an unknown destination. Approximately 6 minutes later the pilot contacted the tower stating he would be returning. On his next tower contact (25 seconds later) the pilot stated that he had a little problem, and dvt tower responded, "when able advise what your problem is" and the tower then cleared the aircraft for a straight in for the runway. Approximately 8 minutes after departure from dvt the pilot reported that he had no oil pressure and was reporting a 3 mile final. At approximately 9 minutes after departure the pilot stated "I'm landing right here before the freeway", and the tower responded that they would have assistance on the way. The aircraft was observed by the tower and to descend abruptly in to a housing area after which a column of smoke was seen rising. Total pilot time could not be determined due to incomplete logbook records. The last medical certification was a class iii on 6/19/02 where the pilot reported 5,080 civilian hours and 32 in the past 6 months.