# Accident 20221221018329A: Grumman American Aviation AA-5B, Reserve, LA, December 21, 2022

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: December 21, 2022, 19:54 local time
- Place: Reserve, LA
- Airport: Port Of South Louisiana Execut
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Takeoff: Climb Out
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 30.0875° N, 90.5828° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.0875&lon=-90.5828&mi=10
- Aircraft: N321GD, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N321GD) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Grumman American Avn. AA-5B (registry code 3960105, https://openairdocs.org/model/grumman-american-avn-aa-5b) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming O&VO-360 series (registry code 41514, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-vo-360-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: GRUMMAN AMERICAN AVIATION AA-5B
- Reported engine: LYCOMING O-360-AK4
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 1
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot, flight instructor
- Pilot flight hours: 2,237 total, 657 in this make and model, 91 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CEN23LA068](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN23LA068) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20221221018329A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

THE AIRCRAFT, ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^, WAS REFUELLED TO FULL TANKS 2 DAYS PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT AND KEPT IN A HEATED HANGER. THE CFI AND STUDENT HAD NOT FLOWN THE DAY OF THE ACCIDENT. THEY CONDUCTED A COMPREHENSIVE SORTIE BRIEF FOR THE INSTRUMENT TRAINING FLIGHT, AND RECIEVED A WEATHER BRIEF BEFORE FILING AN IFR FLIGHT PLAN, WITH KMSY AS THEIR ALTERNATE. AFTER CONDUCTING THEIR PREFLIGHT CHECKS AND RUN UP, THERE WAS LITTLE DELAY IN RECIEVING THEIR RELEASE FROM MSY, AND THE AIRCRAFT TOOK OFF AT 7.52PM. THE CFI NOTED THAT THE CARB TEMPERATURE WAS 72°F ON CLIMB OUT. THE AIRCRAFT WAS CLIMBED AT 90 KTS AND WENT IMC AT 450’. SHORTLY AFTER, AT APPROXIMATELY 500’, THERE WAS A MARKED POWER REDUCTION FELT AND THE RPM DROPPED TO APPROXIMATELY 1400. THE HANDLING PILOT HEARD THE ENGINE "COUGH AND SPLUTTER" AND NOTED AN ROM DROP. THE CFI TOOK CONTROL AND INSTIGATED A TURN BACK TO THE LEFT. AS PART OF HIS TROUBLESHOOTING HE LEANED THE MIXTURE, NOTING A RISE IN APPROXIMATELY 200 RPM AS HE DID SO. HE DID NOT APPLY CARB HEAT, AND THE ELECTRICAL FUEL PUMP WAS ON. WHEN THE AIRCRAFT EMERGED INTO VMC AT APPROXIATELY 350’, THE AIRCRAFT WAS APPROXIMATELY HALF WAS DOWN THE RUNWAY. IN ORDER TO AVOID OVERRUNNING THE AIRFIELD AND ENDING UP IN A DITCH, THE CFI PUT DOWN FULL FLAP AND CONDUCTED A FORWARD SLIP, HOPING TO LAND THE AIRCRAFT FACING BACK UP THE PARALLEL TAXIWAY FOR RUNAY 35. THE STUDENT NOTED THAT BY THIS POINT THE PROPELLOR HAD STOPPED. AT APPROXIMATELY 5’, THE AIRCRAFT WAS FELT TO STALL AND THE LEFT WING AND NOSEWHEEL HIT THE GROUND. THE AIRCRAFT RAPIDLY DECELERATED AND THEN TURNED ONTO A HEADING OF 241°. THE CFI CONDUCTED AN EMERGENCY ENGINE SHUTDOWN AND SAFELY VACATED  THE AIRCRAFT WITH HIS STUDENT, SUSTAINING A MILD FACIAL ABRASION AS HE DID SO. SUBSEQUENT INVESTIGATION OF THE ENGINE BY FAA MAINTENANCE INSPECTORS FOUND NO FAILURE OF ANY COMPONENT WITHIN THE ENGINE. GIVEN THE CONDITIONS OF FLIGHT, CARBURETTOR ICING IS CONSIDERED TO BE THE MOST LIKELY CAUSE OF THE ENGINE FAILURE.

## 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 CEN23LA068](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN23LA068), Dec 21, 2022: Grumman American AA-5B (N321GD), Reserve, LA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The partial loss of engine power due to carburetor icing and the flight instructor’s failure to use carburetor heat in weather conditions conducive to serious carburetor icing.

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.

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