# NTSB ERA17FA299: Grumman AA1, N8866L, Portland, TN, August 30, 2017 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report - Date: August 29, 2017, 19:20 local (Aug 30, 2017, 00:20 UTC) - Place: Portland, TN - Coordinates: 36.58472, -86.4775 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.5847&lon=-86.4775&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Approach: Fuel exhaustion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192) - Highest injury: Fatal - Injuries: 2 fatal - Status: Completed, report November 5, 2018 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO, Lycoming - NTSB case key (mKey): 95911 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA17FA299 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/95911/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=95911 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA17FA299 ## Probable cause The pilot's improper fuel planning, which resulted in a total loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Planning/preparation: fuel planning](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Grumman American Avn. AA-1B, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030/cases.md?model=3960103), [All aircraft, 719 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030/cases.md) - [Fluids: fuel](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010): Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware · Fluid level (probable cause); cases with it: [Grumman American Avn. AA-1B, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md?model=3960103), [All aircraft, 1,695 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Approach: Fuel exhaustion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192) (defining event); cases with it: [Grumman American Avn. AA-1B, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192/sequence.md?model=3960103), [All aircraft, 804 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192/sequence.md) - [Approach: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341); cases with it: [Grumman American Avn. AA-1B, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=3960103), [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md) - [Emergency descent: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440); cases with it: [Grumman American Avn. AA-1B, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=3960103), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md) - [Landing: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Grumman American Avn. AA-1B, 11 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=3960103), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The private pilot and the passenger were making a local personal flight in the airplane. According to witnesses, the airplane was flying "low" in the vicinity of the runway when it collided with trees and impacted terrain in a nose-down attitude. Examination of the airplane revealed that the fuel selector was in the left tank position; there was no fuel in the left tank or in the fuel lines, and there was less than 1 teaspoon of fuel in the electric boost pump. Therefore, it is likely that the engine lost power because of fuel exhaustion. At an unknown time, the airplane's original 108-horsepower engine had been replaced with a 150-horsepower engine. An updated pilot operating handbook or operating handbook supplement that would have provided fuel consumption figures for the higher horsepower engine was not located. When the accident occurred, the airplane had been flown about 2.23 hours since it had been fully fueled. Based on the estimated fuel burn rate of between 8.8 and 10 gallons per hour provided by the engine manufacturer for the 150-horsepower engine, the airplane likely would have consumed its entire usable fuel capacity of 22 gallons about the time of the accident. ## Factual narrative HISTORY OF FLIGHT On August 29, 2017, about 1920 central daylight time, a Grumman AA-1B, N8866L, was substantially damaged when it impacted trees and terrain while approaching Portland Municipal Airport (1M5), Portland, Tennessee. The private pilot and passenger were fatally injured. The airplane was owned and operated by the pilot in accordance with the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed for the local personal flight. The flight originated from 1M5 about 1831. A student pilot, who was the pilot's grandson, flew the airplane 2 days before the accident flight. The student pilot stated that he completely fueled the airplane that day and then flew to Gallatin, Tennessee, to pick up his flight instructor for training. They flew for about 1.4 hours that day. The student pilot stated that the pilot did not purchase fuel before his accident flight, and no one else flew the airplane between the two flights. Several witnesses reported seeing the airplane as it flew "low" shortly before the accident. They generally described that after it contacted the treetops it impacted the ground in a nose-down attitude. A Garmin 196 GPS was recovered from the wreckage and sent to the National Transportation Safety Board Vehicle Recorders Laboratory for data download. Review of the data revealed that the airplane departed 1M5, flew south, and circled the city of Gallatin, Tennessee, before returning to 1M5. The last recorded position was about 0.5 miles south of the threshold of runway 1. According to the data, the duration of the accident flight was 0.83 hour. PERSONNEL INFORMATION According to Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) records, the pilot held a private pilot certificate with an airplane single-engine land rating. He held an FAA third-class medical certificate issued September 23, 2015, limited by a requirement to have available glasses for near vision. At the time of the medical examination, the pilot reported 450 total hours of flight experience. The pilot's logbook was not recovered. AIRCRAFT INFORMATION The airplane was issued an airworthiness certificate on October 20, 1976. According to the FAA type certificate data sheet for the Grumman AA-1B, the airplane was originally equipped with a 108-horsepower Lycoming O-235-C2C engine driving a two-bladed McCauley 1A105 SCM 7157 propeller. The engine had been replaced with a 150-horsepower Lycoming O-320-A2B engine driving a two-bladed Sensenich 74DM6-0-60 propeller. According to FAA registration records, the pilot purchased the airplane on September 2, 2014. According to the airplane's maintenance logbooks, the last annual inspection was completed on November 11, 2016. At that time, the airframe had accumulated a total time of 1,744.5 hours; the engine total time was 2,722.5 hours with 522.5 hours since overhaul. At the time of the accident, the recorded tachometer time was 1,786.4 hours. The airframe maintenancelogbook available for review was labeled "Book #2 Feb. 1999." The first page in this logbook indicated that the airplane was equipped with a Lycoming O-320-A2B engine. It is unknown when the O-235-C2C engine was removed and the O-320-A2B engine installed. An updated pilot operating handbook or operating handbook supplement that would have provided fuel consumption figures for the higher horsepower engine was not located. A review of the Grumman American AA-1B Owner's Manual revealed that the airplane held 22 gallons of useable fuel. When equipped with the original O-235-L2C engine, the airplane consumed 5.3 gallons of fuel per hour at 2,500 ft and 64% cruise power, and the fuel endurance at this altitude and power setting was 3.9 hours. The Lycoming Operations Manual for the O-320-series engine stated that the engine consumed 10 gallons of fuel per hour at 75% rated power settings and 8.8 gallons per hour at 65% rated power settings. METEOROLOGICAL INFORMATION At 1953, the recorded weather at Bowling Green-Warren County Regional Airport (BWG), located 23 miles north of the accident site, included wind calm, visibility 10 statute miles, and scattered clouds at 4,600 ft. WRECKAGE AND IMPACT INFORMATION The accident site was about 2,500 ft from the threshold of runway 1 and 200 ft to the left of the runway centerline. The debris path was about 200 ft long from initial impact with 60-ft-tall trees to the main wreckage on a heading of 060° magnetic. A ground scar consistent with the engine and propeller was observed about 85 ft from the initial tree strike. The airplane came to rest upright on the landing gear on a heading of 240° magnetic. Flight control continuity was established to all flight controls. The right wing separated and came to rest beside the main wreckage. The right fuel tank was crushed, and the fuel cap was missing. The right fuel tank appeared to be breached; however, there was no fuel odor or browning of vegetation. The left wing remained attached to the fuselage. The flap and aileron remained attached to the wing and were intact. The fuel tank was intact and not breeched. There was no fuel in the left tank. The fuel drain line was opened, and no fuel was present in the lines. The fuel selector valve was in the left tank detent. The electric boost pump filter was removed, and less than 1 teaspoon of fuel was captured. The mixture and throttle controls were full forward. The fuselage and cockpit were substantially damaged. The canopy was shattered except for the sliding rails mounted on the fuselage. The seat belts were intact, and the pilot's seat belts were still connected. The passenger's seat belts were not connected, and there were no tears or stretch marks in the belt webbing. The engine remained attached the fuselage. The engine was removed and placed on a lift for examination and partial disassembly. The top spark plugs were removed, and the engine was rotated by hand. Thumb compression was achieved on all cylinders.Continuity was established between the crankshaft to the rear gears and to the valvetrain. The cylinders were examined using a borescope, and no anomalies were noted. The propeller remained attached to the engine, however the propeller flange was fractured. One propeller blade was bent aft, and the spinner dome was crushed and fragmented. Neither of the propeller blades exhibited leading edge gouging or chordwise scratching. The examination of the wreckage did not reveal evidence of any preimpact mechanical malfunctions. MEDICAL AND PATHOLOGICAL INFORMAITON The Office of the Medical Examiner, Nashville, Tennessee, performed an autopsy on the pilot. The report listed the cause of death as multiple blunt force injuries. The FAA Bioaeronautical Sciences Research Laboratory, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, performed forensic toxicology on specimens from the pilot. Citalopram was detected in urine and blood (0.411 µg/ml); N-Desmethylcitalopram was detected in urine and blood (0.083 µg/ml); and Verapamil and norverapamil were detected in the urine and blood. Citalopram is an antidepressant medication also marketed with the name Celexa; N-Desmethylcitalopram is a metabolite of citalopram. Although not considered impairing by itself, the use of citalopram by pilots requires a special issuance medical certificate because the underlying depression can cause cognitive impairments. The pilot did not report the use of citalopram to the FAA at the time of his last medical examination. Verapamil is a prescription blood pressure medication that is not considered impairing. Norverapamil is a metabolite of verapamil. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N8866L](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8866L-2018-07-10), registration cancelled 2018-07-10, S/N AA1B0666, built 1976 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: GRUMMAN AA1 (B) - Registry model: [Grumman American Avn. AA-1B](https://openairdocs.org/model/grumman-american-avn-aa-1b) (registry code 3960103) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-235 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-235-series) (registry code 41505, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: AA1B0666 - Year built: 1976 - Airframe hours: 1786.4 - Engines: Lycoming O-320-A2B 150 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, November 11, 2016, 42 hours before - Departed: 1M5, Portland, TN - Destination: 1M5, Portland, TN - Airport: 1M5, Portland Muni, runway 01, 5,000 × 100 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Handheld GPS ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 67; injuries: fatal; private; airplane ratings: single-engine sea; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 450 total, 250 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 6,500 ft broken - Temperature: 79 °F, dew point 66 °F - Altimeter: 29.97 inHg - Observed at: KBWG, 23 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 20170829017459A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20170829017459A), Aug 29, 2017: Grumman American Avn. Corp. AA-1B, Portland, TN, Substantial damage, 2 fatal. Aircraft attempted a landing at the destination airport and came up short of the runway after losing engine power and hitting a tree. Accident scene… ## Other investigations on N8866L (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 SEA06CA108](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA06CA108), May 30, 2006: Grumman AA-1B (N8866L), Bountiful, UT, substantial damage. Probable cause: An obstructed windshield which resulted in the pilot misjudging the distance/altitude during an emergency landing. An oil leak as a result of a leaking crankshaft seal was a factor. ## Docket (13 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 11, 2018, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=95911. 21.2 MB in all. - Global Positioning System - Specialist's Factual Report (item 1, .PDF, 2.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40467311&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Global%20Positioning%20System%20-%20Specialist%27s%20Factual%20Report-Master.PDF - Global Positioning System Attachment 1 - Tabular data (item 2, .CSV, 15 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40467312&FileExtension=.csv&FileName=Global%20Positioning%20System%20Attachment%201%20-%20Tabular%20data-Master.csv - Record of Interview (item 3, .PDF, 53 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40467313&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Interview-Master.PDF - Witness Statements to FAA (item 4, .PDF, 207 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40467337&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Witness%20Statements%20to%20FAA-Master.PDF - Witness Statements (item 5, .PDF, 11.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40467338&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Witness%20Statements-Master.PDF - Type Certificate Data Sheet (item 6, .PDF, 80 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40467339&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Type%20Certificate%20Data%20Sheet-Master.PDF - Excerpt From Lycoming Operations Manual (item 7, .PDF, 171 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40467340&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Excerpt%20From%20Lycoming%20Operations%20Manual-Master.PDF - Maintenance Records (item 8, .PDF, 5.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40467341&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Maintenance%20Records-Master.PDF - Investigative Photos (item 9, .PDF, 1.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40467342&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Investigative%20Photos-Master.PDF - Toxicological Report (item 10, .PDF, 370 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40467343&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Toxicological%20Report-Master.PDF - Statement of Party Representatives to NTSB Investigation (item 11, .PDF, 70 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40467344&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Statement%20of%20Party%20Representatives%20to%20NTSB%20Investigation-Master.PDF - Evidence Control Form (item 12, .PDF, 76 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40467345&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Evidence%20Control%20Form-Master.PDF - Release of Aircraft Wreckage, NTSB Form 6120.15 (item 13, .PDF, 42 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40467346&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Release%20of%20Aircraft%20Wreckage,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.15-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. --- 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.