# Accident 20230704012019A: Grumman American Avn. Corp. AA-5A, Huntsville, AL, July 4, 2023

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: July 4, 2023, 14:15 local time
- Place: Huntsville, AL
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Cruise/Level Flight
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 34.6101° N, 86.6677° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.6101&lon=-86.6677&mi=10
- Aircraft: N26387, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N26387) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Grumman American Avn. AA-5A (registry code 3960106, https://openairdocs.org/model/grumman-american-avn-aa-5a) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming 0-320 series (registry code 41508, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: GRUMMAN AMERICAN AVN. CORP. AA-5A
- Reported engine: LYCOMING 0-320 SERIES
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Private pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 100 total
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ERA23LA286](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA23LA286) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20230704012019A

## Narrative

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

PILOT AND PASSENGER DEPARTED HUNTSVILLE INTL. AIRPORT (KHSV) TOWARDS GUNTERSVILLE, AL AIRPORT (8A1). WHEN ADJUSTING THE POWER SETTINGS, THE ENGINE WENT TO IDLE AND DID NOT RESPOND TO THROTTLE CABLE INPUTS. AN EMERGENCY WAS THEN DECLARED, AND AN ATTEMPT WAS MADE FOR REDSTONE ARSENAL (US ARMY) AIRFIELD (NEAREST AIRFIELD). WHEN UNABLE TO MAKE IT TO RUNWAY, PILOT SELECTED A NEARBY FIELD WITH A PAVED ROAD FOR LANDING. (PART OF REDSTONE ARSENAL, DESIGNATED TRAINING AREA #1). AFTER  CONTROLLED LANDING ON THE ROAD, MAXIMUM BRAKING WAS APPLIED BUT AIRCRAFT STRUCK A GATE POST AT LOW SPEED WHICH STOPPED THE AIRPLANE.

PILOT AND PASSENGER WERE UNINJURED. AIRCRAFT SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE TO L/H WING LEADING EDGE SKIN AND MINOR DAMAGE TO PROPELLER.

INVESTIGATION REVEALED THROTTLE CABLE RETENTION CLAMP FORWARD OF FUEL INJECTOR SERVO HAD BECOME LOOSE AND WAS MISSING, ALLOWING ENTIRE CABLE ASSEMBLY TO SHIFT FORE AND AFT, RENDERING THROTTLE CONTROL INEFFECTIVE. THROTTLE CABLE HAD BEEN REPLACED WITH NEW UNIT AT ANNUAL INSPECTION APPROX. 15 FLT HRS & 8 MONTHS PRIOR.

## 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 ERA23LA286](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA23LA286), Jul 4, 2023: Grumman American Avn. AA5A (N26387), Redstone Arsenal, AL, substantial damage. Probable cause: The separation of the clamp assembly securing the throttle control cable outer housing, which resulted in the pilot’s inability to control the throttle.

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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