# NTSB ERA22LA266: Grumman American Avn. AA-5, N9577L, Sarasota, FL, June 13, 2022 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: June 13, 2022, 17:44 local (21:44 UTC) - Place: Sarasota, FL · Rural area adjacent to stream - Coordinates: 27.300636, -82.251945 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=27.3006&lon=-82.2519&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Approach-VFR pattern final: Fuel contamination](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/193) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 105253 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA22LA266 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/105253/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=105253 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA22LA266 ## Probable cause The pilot’s inadequate preflight inspection, during which he failed to detect water contamination in the fuel system, which resulted in a loss of engine power on approach. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [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) - [Fluids: fuel](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010): Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware · Fluid condition (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) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Approach-VFR pattern final: Fuel contamination](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/193) (defining event); cases with it: [Grumman American Avn. AA-5, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/193/sequence.md?model=3960104), [All aircraft, 225 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/193/sequence.md) - [Approach-VFR pattern final: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341); cases with it: [Grumman American Avn. AA-5, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=3960104), [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-5, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=3960104), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot stated that he departed visual flight rules and was returning to his home airport after work. On about a 3-mile final approach to the runway the pilot switched from the right to the left fuel tank and when he tried to add engine power found there was no response. He then switched back to the right tank and found the engine was still producing no power. The pilot executed a forced landing in a field, which resulted in substantial damage to the wings, tail, and fuselage. An inspection of the wing fuel tanks found the left tank to be empty and dry, and a sample from the right tank revealed all water with no visible fuel. When the carburetor was drained, it had about 2 tablespoons of liquid; half fuel and half water. The pilot stated that he did not check for fuel contamination before departing. He also reported that he fueled the airplane with fuel cans that were uncapped and exposed to rain over the weekend. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N9577L](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N9577L), registered now, S/N AA5-0577, built 1974 (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: AA5-0577 - Year built: 1974 - Airframe hours: 6823 - Engines: Lycoming O-320-E2G 160 hp reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal; Standard, Utility - Last inspection: Annual, October 2, 2020 - Departed: FPR, Fort Pierce, FL - Destination: Same as departure - Airport: 22FA, Hidden River, runway 27, 2,524 × 49 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Auto-pilot, Stall warning system, Handheld GPS, ADS-B ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 64; injuries: none; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review April 14, 2021; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 13,000 total, 3,000 in this make and model, 12,000 as pilot in command, 104 in the last 90 days, 20 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 270° at 7 knots - Visibility: 9 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 88 °F, dew point 73 °F - Altimeter: 30.07 inHg - Observed at: KVNC, 17 nm away - METAR: METAR KVNC 132155Z AUTO 27007KT 9SM CLR 31/23 A3007 RMK AO2 ## 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 20220613010389A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20220613010389A), Jun 13, 2022: Grumman American Avn. Corp. AA-5, Sarasota, FL, Substantial damage. On 06/13/2022, at 1700 EDT, [privacy data omitted], a Grumman American AA-5, ser# AA5-0577, [privacy data omitted], lost power and crash landed, and then… ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 17, 2022, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=105253. 15.3 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 7 pages, 6.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14334233&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=1_6120v1_Redacted-Rel.pdf - FAA record of telephone call - pilot (item 2, PDF, 2 pages, 83 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14333867&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=2_Form%201360-33%20Record%20of%20Call_Squire_Signed1_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Wreckage diagram (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 6.6 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14334277&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=3_Map%20with%20Coordinates-Rel.pdf - Examination summary (item 4, PDF, 7 pages, 2.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14333246&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=4_Airframe%20and%20Engine%20Examination%20Report-Rel.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.