# NTSB ERA14LA451: Grumman American Avn. AA-5A, N26676, Homosassa, FL, September 21, 2014

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: September 21, 2014, 12:05 local (16:05 UTC)
- Place: Homosassa, FL
- Coordinates: 28.783332, -82.616668 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=28.7833&lon=-82.6167&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Enroute-cruise: Loss of engine power (partial)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 1 minor, 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report February 23, 2015
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation
- Parties: FAA/FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 90133
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA14LA451
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/90133/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=90133
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA14LA451

## Probable cause

A partial loss of engine power for reasons that could not be determined because engine examination did not reveal any anomalies that would have precluded normal operation.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Not determined](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000): Not determined › Not determined · Unknown/Not determined (probable cause); cases with it: [Grumman American Avn. AA-5A, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md?model=3960106), [All aircraft, 2,247 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Enroute-cruise: Loss of engine power (partial)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342) (defining event); cases with it: [Grumman American Avn. AA-5A, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342/sequence.md?model=3960106), [All aircraft, 1,858 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342/sequence.md)
- [Emergency descent: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440); cases with it: [Grumman American Avn. AA-5A, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=3960106), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md)
- [Emergency descent: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Grumman American Avn. AA-5A, 12 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=3960106), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot reported that, when the airplane was in cruise flight at 1,500 ft above ground level, the engine began to intermittently run roughly. The pilot initially applied carburetor heat, but he then turned it off because he did not observe the engine power improve. The engine power loss became more consistent, and the airplane was unable to maintain altitude. The pilot attempted to divert to a nearby airport while the pilot-rated passenger tried to restore engine power; however, the airport was 5 miles away, and the airplane could not glide that far at its altitude. The pilot then attempted to perform a forced landing to a field. During the approach, the pilot-rated passenger took control of the airplane, which subsequently collided with power lines, impacted the field, and then came to rest upright. Examination of the wreckage revealed that 25 gallons of fuel remained onboard. Examination of the engine did not reveal any preimpact mechanical malfunctions. When the propeller was rotated by hand, camshaft, crankshaft, and valve train continuity were confirmed, and thumb compression was attained on all cylinders. The magnetos produced spark at all of the leads, and no obstructions were observed in the carburetor venturi. The temperature and dew point at the time of the accident were conducive to the accumulation of serious icing at glide power; however, the engine was at cruise power when the power loss occurred.

## Factual narrative

On September 21, 2014, about 1205 eastern daylight time, a Grumman American AA-5A, N26676, operated by a private individual, was substantially damaged during a forced landing, following a partial loss of engine power during cruise flight near Homosassa, Florida. The private pilot was not injured and a pilot-rated-passenger incurred minor injuries. The personal flight was conducted under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the flight that departed South Lakeland Airport (X49), Lakeland, Florida, about 1130. No flight plan was filed for the planned flight to Harris County Airport (PIM), Pine Mountain, Georgia. The pilot reported that during cruise flight, about 1,500 feet above ground level, the engine began to intermittently run rough. The engine power loss became more consistent and the pilot was unable to maintain altitude. He attempted to divert to a nearby airport while the pilot-rated-passenger tried to restore engine power; however, the airport was 5 miles away and the airplane would not glide that far at its altitude. The pilot then attempted to perform a forced landing into a field. During the approach, the pilot-rated-passenger took control of the airplane. The airplane collided with powerlines and impacted the field, before coming to rest upright. The airplane was equipped with a Lycoming O-320, 160-horsepower engine. The airplane's most recent annual inspection was completed on January 1, 2014. At that time, the airplane had accrued about 1,580 total hours and the engine 29 hours since major overhaul. The airplane had flown about 2 additional hours from the time of the inspection, until the accident flight. Examination of the wreckage by a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector revealed damage to the wing spars. The inspector was able to rotate the propeller and verify camshaft, crankshaft and valve train continuity. He also attained thumb compression on all cylinders and the magnetos produced spark at all leads. He observed fuel in both fuel pumps and the carburetor. He did not observe any blockages in the carburetor venturi and noted that the airplane had about 25 gallons of fuel remaining at the accident site. When the inspector interviewed the pilot, the pilot reported that he momentarily applied carburetor heat when the engine began to run rough, but then turned it off after a few seconds because he did not observe any improvement in engine power. Review of an FAA Carburetor Icing chart for the temperature (70 degrees F) and dew point (68 degrees F) at the time of the accident revealed "Serious Icing (glide power);" however, the engine was at cruise power when the power loss occurred.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N26676](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N26676-2018-05-30), registration cancelled 2018-05-30, S/N AA5A0640, built 1978 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: GRUMMAN AMERICAN AVN. CORP. AA-5A
- Registry model: [Grumman American Avn. AA-5A](https://openairdocs.org/model/grumman-american-avn-aa-5a) (registry code 3960106) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: AA5A0640
- Year built: 1978
- Airframe hours: 1580
- Engines: LYCOMING O-320 160 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Deford Francis D
- Registered owner: Deford Mary R
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, January 1, 2014, 2 hours before
- Departed: X49, Lakeland, FL
- Destination: PIM, Pine Mounain, GA
- Equipment: Stall warning system

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 59; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review April 1, 2014; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 1,300 total, 1,120 in this make and model, 1,190 as pilot in command, 35 in the last 90 days, 11 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours
- Pilot-rated passenger; age 77; injuries: minor; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land, multi-engine sea, single-engine sea; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review October 27, 2012; seat: right; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 4,850 total, 70 in this make and model, 4,700 as pilot in command, 60 in the last 90 days, 15 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: calm
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 70 °F, dew point 68 °F
- Altimeter: 30.01 inHg
- Observed at: BKV, 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 20140921018789A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20140921018789A), Sep 21, 2014: Grumman American Avn. Corp. AA-5A, Homasassa, FL, Substantial damage. Aircraft departed south lakeland airport (X49) runway 32 enroute to pine mountain, ga (X40). Pilots state that approximately 45 minutes in to the flight while…

## Docket (5 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 16, 2014, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=90133. 2.2 MB in all.

- Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 1.8 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40417738&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF
- FAA Inspector Statement (item 2, .PDF, 70 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40417739&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=FAA%20Inspector%20Statement-Master.PDF
- Weather Report (item 3, .PDF, 67 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40417740&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Weather%20Report-Master.PDF
- FAA Carb Ice Chart from SAIB (item 4, .PDF, 255 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40417741&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=FAA%20Carb%20Ice%20Chart%20from%20SAIB-Master.PDF
- Photo 1 - Wreckage (Photo Courtesy of FAA) (item 5, .PDF, 68 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40417742&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201%20-%20Wreckage%20(Photo%20Courtesy%20of%20FAA)-Master.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.

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