# NTSB CEN10LA403: Grumman American Avn. AA-5, N5453U, Hutto, TX, July 13, 2010 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 13, 2010, 10:35 local (15:35 UTC) - Place: Hutto, TX - Coordinates: 30.540559, -97.539642 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.5406&lon=-97.5396&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Enroute-climb to cruise: Loss of engine power (partial)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report December 20, 2010 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA Flight Standards District Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 76653 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN10LA403 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/76653/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=76653 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN10LA403 ## Probable cause The loss of engine power due to fuel starvation as a result of the pilot's failure to visually verify his fuel quantity prior to the flight. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Fluids: fuel](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010): Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware · Fluid management (probable cause); cases with it: [Grumman American Avn. AA-5, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md?model=3960104), [All aircraft, 1,695 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md) - [Inspection: preflight inspection](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061510): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Grumman American Avn. AA-5, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061510/cases.md?model=3960104), [All aircraft, 551 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061510/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Enroute-climb to cruise: Loss of engine power (partial)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342) (defining event); cases with it: [Grumman American Avn. AA-5, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342/sequence.md?model=3960104), [All aircraft, 1,858 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342/sequence.md) ## Analysis Shortly after takeoff, while on departure, the airplane's engine lost all power. The pilot attempted to troubleshoot the loss of engine power but was unable to get the engine to restart. The pilot then elected to make a forced landing to a corn field. During the forced landing, the airplane's landing gear separated, the right wing crushed aft, and the airplane nosed over. Flight control continuity was confirmed. An examination of the airplane's fuel system showed that the right fuel tank contained 10 gallons of fuel. The left fuel tank was empty. The pilot reported that he was flying on (had selected) the left fuel tank when engine power was lost. No other preimpact anomalies were found. ## Factual narrative On July 13, 2010, approximately 1035 central daylight time, a Grumman AA-5, N5453U was substantially damaged during a forced landing to a corn field near Hutto, Texas. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The personal flight was being conducted under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 without a flight plan. The commercial pilot sustained minor injuries. The local flight departed Taylor, Texas, approximately 1025. The pilot stated in a telephone conversation that he had been in flight for ten minutes when the engine started to shudder and run rough. The pilot attempted to trouble shoot the loss of engine power but was unable to restore full power. The pilot performed a forced landing to a corn field. During the forced landing the main landing gear separated, the left wing was crushed aft, and the airplane nosed over coming to rest inverted. In a written statement provided later by the pilot, he wrote that prior to the flight the fuel gauge indicated that the left fuel tank was full and the right fuel tank was one quarter to one half full. The pilot wrote that he had fueled the airplane prior to his flight review in May. The airplane had not been flown since the flight review. The pilot selected the left fuel tank for the flight. He did not visually verify the fuel quantity in either tank but did not see any evidence of a fuel leak on the asphalt tarmac. He also noted that several other pilots at his airport had reported cases of possible fuel siphoning from parked airplanes. According to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Inspector who traveled to the scene, 10 gallons of fuel from the right fuel tank was recovered into a small plastic kid's pool. The left wing fuel tank was empty. According to the team who recovered the airplane, only one cup of additional fuel was recovered from the airplane. Neither the left or right fuel tanks were compromised during the accident sequence. It was noted that the inspection panels below both the left and right fuel tanks were discolored and stained consistent with a fuel leak. The stains were rust in color, also consistent with the utilization of automotive fuel. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N5453U](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5453U-2012-01-06), registration cancelled 2012-01-06, S/N AA5-0781 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: GRUMMAN AMERICAN AVN. CORP. AA-5 - Registry model: [Grumman American Avn. AA-5](https://openairdocs.org/model/grumman-american-avn-aa-5) (registry code 3960104) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: AA5-0781 - Airframe hours: 1831 - Engines: LYCOMING O-320 SERIES 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Last inspection: Annual, July 2, 2009 - Departed: KT74, Taylor, TX - Destination: KT74, Taylor, TX ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 62; injuries: minor; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review May 4, 2010; seat: left; flight hours: 4,190 total, 750 in this make and model, 4,190 as pilot in command, 2 in the last 90 days, 0 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 190° at 11 knots, gusting 15 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 2,200 ft overcast - Temperature: 84 °F, dew point 72 °F - Altimeter: 29.94 inHg - Observed at: KGTU, 10 nm away ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20100713042009A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20100713042009A), Jul 13, 2010: Grumman Ame AA-5, Hutto, TX, Destroyed. On July 13, 2010 approximately 10:30 a.m. central daylight time, a Grumman American aviation model AA-5 single engine airplane landed in a cornfield near the… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on September 2, 2010, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=76653. 195 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 124 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40335055&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Additional Pilot Statement - CEN10LA403 (item 2, .PDF, 41 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40335060&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Additional%20Pilot%20Statement%20-%20CEN10LA403-Redacted.PDF - FAA Inspector Statement (item 3, .PDF, 30 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40335059&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=FAA%20Inspector%20Statement-Redacted.PDF 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.