- Date
- January 5, 2010, 13:30 local (20:30 UTC)
- Place
- Santa Fe, NM
- Injuries
- 1 minor
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Takeoff
- Aircraft
- N28446Grumman American AA-5B
- Defining event
- Takeoff: Flight control sys malf/fail
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report May 6, 2010
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- Central Region
- Parties
- Federal Aviation Administration
- FAA report
- 20100105025879A
- Case key
- 75241
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The restricted elevator control movement for undetermined reasons.
Findings · 2
NTSB’s coded findings. Those marked are part of the probable cause; the rest are factors or other findings. Under each, the cases with the same finding.
Sequence of events
The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event is the one that best describes the accident. Under each, the cases with the same event anywhere in their sequence.
Analysis
The pilot taxied out for the first flight since completion of the airplane’s annual inspection. Before taking the active runway the pilot performed an engine run-up and checked the airplane’s flight controls for freedom of movement. No anomalies were noted. While on the takeoff roll the pilot attempted to pull the control yoke to facilitate rotation; however, the yoke would not move aft. As the accelerating airplane began to lift off the ground the pilot elected to reduce the throttle to idle, but was unable to lift the airplane’s nose for landing. The airplane impacted the runway, the nose landing gear separated, and the airplane went airborne for the second time. The airplane again impacted the runway before coming to rest in an upright and nose-low position. The pilot was able to exit the airplane unassisted. A Federal Aviation Administration inspector responded to the accident site and examined the airplane. The inspector reported that he was unable to find the reason for the restricted elevator control movement.
Factual narrative
The pilot taxied out for the first flight since completion of the airplane’s annual inspection. Before taking the active runway the pilot performed an engine run-up and checked the airplane’s flight controls for freedom of movement. No anomalies were noted. While on the takeoff roll the pilot attempted to pull the control yoke to facilitate rotation; however, the yoke would not move aft. As the accelerating airplane began to lift off the ground the pilot elected to reduce the throttle to idle, but was unable to lift the airplane’s nose for landing. The airplane impacted the runway, the nose landing gear separated, and the airplane went airborne for the second time. The airplane again impacted the runway before coming to rest in an upright and nose low position. The pilot was able to exit the airplane unassisted. A Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector responded to the accident site and examined the airplane. The inspector reported that he was unable to find the reason for the restricted elevator control movement.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N28446
- Reported as
- Grumman American AA-5B
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- AA5B0614
- Airframe hours
- 5,812
- Engine
- Lycoming O-360-A4K, 180 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · December 28, 2009 · 0 hours before
- Departed
- SAF · Santa Fe, NM
- Destination
- SAF · Santa Fe, NM
- Airport
- SAF · Santa Fe Municipal, runway 20, 8,342 × 150 ft, concrete
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 84
- Injuries
- Minor
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 3, With waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- October 6, 2008
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 6,000 total · 1,500 in this make and model · 5,500 as pilot in command · 1 in the last 90 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 68 °F
Docket · 1
The files NTSB released with the investigation on February 3, 2010, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 917 KB in all.
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.