20080406837529A

Accident · Substantial damage

FAA accident report · Amrgen AA-1B · State College, PA · April 6, 2008

Date: April 6, 2008 · 15:45 local
Place: State College, PA
Airport: University Park
Phase of flight: Climb
Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
Damage: Substantial damage
Aircraft: N15FA
NTSB investigation: NTSBMIA08CA087
Reported as: Amrgen AA1B
Reported engine: Lycoming O235C2C
Fatal injuries: 0
Pilot’s flight hours: 1,300 total500 in this make and model70 in the last 90 days

N15FARegistration cancelled Mar 12, 2009 · American AA-1BS/N AA1B-0014 · Built 1972 Airframe modelAmerican AA-1B

From the FAA’s Accident/Incident Data System (AIDS), through its Aviation Safety Information Portal, as reported. The NTSB investigates accidents separately, and its record of an accident is the fuller one. The aircraft is matched to the registry 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.

What happened

The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.

(-23) Engine runup prior to takeoff was normal. Full power at 2400 RPM. Approx. 300' altitude RPM dropped to 2100, and airspeed dropped to approx. 80MPH. Tanks switched from right to left, and back to right. No change in RPM. Left tank contained 6 gallons. Right tank contained 11 gallons (full). Carb heat applied, slight RPM drop. Carb heat removed. Power continued to degrade. Off-field landing accomplished. Aircraft struck a depression and came to rest inverted.

As the FAA filed it

(-23) ENGINE RUNUP PRIOR TO TAKEOFF WAS NORMAL. FULL POWER AT 2400 RPM. APPROX. 300' ALTITUDE RPM DROPPED TO 2100, AND AIRSPEED DROPPED TO APPROX. 80MPH. TANKS SWITCHED FROM RIGHT TO LEFT, AND BACK TO RIGHT. NO CHANGE IN RPM. LEFT TANK CONTAINED 6 GALLONS. RIGHT TANK CONTAINED 11 GALLONS (FULL). CARB HEAT APPLIED, SLIGHT RPM DROP. CARB HEAT REMOVED. POWER CONTINUED TO DEGRADE. OFF-FIELD LANDING ACCOMPLISHED. AIRCRAFT STRUCK A DEPRESSION AND CAME TO REST INVERTED.

NTSB investigation

The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.

NTSB MIA08CA087Accident · No injuriesData collectionFinal reportState College, PAA partial loss of engine power for an undetermined reason.Apr 6, 2008 · Substantial damage