# NTSB LAX04LA184: Grumman American AA-5B, N74270, San Jose, CA, April 10, 2004 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: April 10, 2004, 15:24 local (22:24 UTC) - Place: San Jose, CA - Coordinates: 37.362499, -121.928886 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.3625&lon=-121.9289&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Taxi](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/250) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report June 8, 2005 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 59046 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX04LA184 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/59046/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX04LA184 ## Probable cause the pilot's encounter with jet blast effects. Factors in the accident were the pilots' inadequate situational awareness of the potential for the jet blast encounter after hearing the Global Express airplane on the frequency call ready for taxi, and, the ground controller's failure to issue a safety advisory. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Propeller blast or jet exhaust/suction, taxi - from landing - propeller/jet blast encounter (cause) - other psychological condition, pilot in command (contributing factor) - in-flight planning/decision - inadequate, pilot in command (contributing factor) - safety advisory - not issued, atc personnel(lcl/gnd/clnc) (contributing factor) ## Analysis The airplane encountered jet blast from a executive jet transport Bombardier BD-700 Global Express, while taxing to parking. After making an uneventful landing, the pilot taxied off the runway and established communications with ground control. The controller cleared him to taxi to his requested destination, and about 30 seconds later the Global Express jet, which was parked on a FBO ramp with its tail pointed to the taxiway, called ground control and said they were ready to taxi. The ground controller cleared the Global Express to taxi behind the Grumman to the active runway. As the Grumman taxied past the Global Express' parking spot, the jet's engines began to spool up, resulting in a jet blast toward the right side of the Grumman. The Grumman swerved uncontrollably, and the left axle sheared off. The controller did not advise the Grumman of the potential jet blast hazard he could encounter while taxiing behind the Global Express. The Global Express was parked about 100 yards to the east of the tower with nothing impeding line of sight between the two. ## Factual narrative On April 10, 2004, at 1524 Pacific daylight time, a Grumman AA-5B, N74270, encountered jet blast from a large executive jet transport airplane while taxing to the ramp after landing at Norman Y. Mineta San Jose International Airport, San Jose, California. The pilot/owner was operating the airplane under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91. The private pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured; the airplane sustained substantial damage. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and a flight plan had not been filed. The personal cross-country flight departed Columbia Airport, Columbia, California, about 1435. In a written statement, the pilot reported that he made an uneventful landing and taxied off the runway. He established communications with ground control, and was cleared to taxi to his requested destination via taxiway Victor. While taxiing, the airplane approached the San Jose Jet Center, where a Bombardier BD-700 Global Express, N949GP, was parked with its tail toward the taxiway. The Global Express' engines began to spool up, resulting in a jet blast toward the right side of the Grumman. The Grumman swerved uncontrollably, and the left axle sheared off. The Grumman incurred damage to the left outboard wing panel and the left side of the fuselage. Federal Aviation Administration Order 7110.65, Air Traffic Control, specifies procedures and practices to be used by air traffic control personnel. Section 2-1-20 (b) advises controllers to "Issue cautionary information to any aircraft if in your opinion, wake turbulence may have an adverse effect on it." Section 2-1-20 (note) specifies that "Although not mandatory during ground operations, controllers may use the words jet blast, propwash, or rotorwash, in lieu of wake turbulence, when issuing a cautionary advisory." A National Transportation Safety Board investigator reviewed transcripts of radio communications between San Jose airport's ground controller and the pilots of both the Grumman and Global Express. At 1523:19, the ground controller cleared the Grumman to taxi to parking. At 1523:50, the ground controller cleared the Global Express to taxi behind the Grumman. At 1524:24, the Global Express called the ground controller indicating that the Grumman had lost control. At 1524:27, the Grumman announced that he experienced jet blast from the Global Express, and had not realized the jet was spooling up. The Global Express was parked about 100 yards to the east of the tower, with nothing impeding line of sight between the two. The San Jose Jet Center ramp, where the Global Express was parked, is considered a nonmovement area. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N74270](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N74270), registered now, S/N AA5B-0178, built 1975 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Grumman American AA-5B - Registry model: [Grumman American Avn. AA-5B](https://openairdocs.org/model/grumman-american-avn-aa-5b) (registry code 3960105) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming O&VO-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-vo-360-series) (registry code 41514, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 0178 - Airframe hours: 3152 - Engines: Lycoming O-360-A4K 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Richard Bennett - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility; Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, April 8, 2004, 3 hours before - Departed: O22, Columbia, CA - Destination: SJC, San Jose, CA - Airport: SJC, Norman Y. Mineta San Jose Inte ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 52; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 1,348 total, 1,048 in this make and model, 1,295 as pilot in command, 36 in the last 90 days, 8 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 310° at 6 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 79 °F, dew point 52 °F - Altimeter: 29.92 inHg - Observed at: SJC ## 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 20040410005129A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20040410005129A), Apr 10, 2004: Amrgen AA5B, San Jose, CA, Substantial damage. (-23) N74270, a gruman AA5 was cleared to taxi south bound on taxiway "v" after landing, to the parking area by sjc ground at 22:22 UTC, N949BP a global… 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.