# NTSB ATL84LA293: Grumman AA5-B, N74107, Luka, MS, September 24, 1984

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: September 24, 1984, 18:30 local (23:30 UTC)
- Place: Luka, MS
- Coordinates: 34.799755, -88.189338 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.7998&lon=-88.1893&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 6548
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL84LA293
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/6548/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL84LA293

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Loss of engine power(partial) - mech failure/malf, cruise - normal
  - engine assembly,valve,intake - separation (cause)
- Forced landing, descent - emergency
- Dragged wing,rotor,pod,float or tail/skid, landing
  - terrain condition - high vegetation (contributing factor)
  - terrain condition - rough/uneven (contributing factor)
  - ground loop/swerve - inadvertent, pilot in command (contributing factor)

## Analysis

DURING NORMAL CRUISE FLIGHT THE NUMBER ONE CYLINDER EXHAUST VALVE HEAD SEPARATED FROM THE VALVE STEM CAUSING A SIGNIFICANT POWER LOSS. THE PILOT SET UP A LANDING APPROACH TO A FARM FIELD. ON FINAL APPROACH THE PILOT NOTICED THAT ROUGH AND RISING TERRAIN EXISTED IN THE FIELD. DURING A SLIGHT RIGHT TURN AT 10 FT ABOVE THE GROUND THE WING CAUGHTIN SOME WEEDS AND THE ACFT GROUND LOOPED. THE REASON FOR THE EXAUST VALVE HEAD SEPARATION COULD NOT BE DETERMINED.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N74107 (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: GRUMMAN AA5-B
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: AA5B-0143
- Airframe hours: 703
- Engines: LYCOMING O-360-A4K 180 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Marvin F. Smith, Jr.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal; Standard, Utility
- Last inspection: 100 hour, April 21, 1984, 72 hours before
- Departed: M73, ALMYRA, AK
- Destination: GAD, GASDEN, AL

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 25; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 183 total, 83 in this make and model, 170 as pilot in command, 51 in the last 90 days, 10 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 170° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 12,000 ft broken
- Temperature: 84 °F, dew point 66 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: TUP, 42 nm away

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.

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