# NTSB LAX87FA135: Grumman American AA-5A, N9917U, Tucson, AZ, March 6, 1987

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: March 5, 1987, 17:40 local (Mar 6, 1987, 00:40 UTC)
- Place: Tucson, AZ
- Coordinates: 32.150066, -110.930877 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.1501&lon=-110.9309&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 3 fatal
- Status: Completed, report February 6, 1989
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 25386
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX87FA135
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/25386/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX87FA135

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Loss of engine power, approach - vfr pattern - downwind
  - engine assembly - undetermined (contributing factor)
- Forced landing, descent - emergency
- Loss of control - in flight, approach - vfr pattern - base leg/base to final
  - airspeed - not maintained, dual student (cause)
  - stall/spin - inadvertent, dual student
  - remedial action - not performed, pilot in command(cfi) (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled

## Analysis

A WITNESS OBSERVED THE AIRPLANE ENTERING DOWNWIND WITH SMOKE TRAILING BEHIND IT. THE PILOT COMMUNICATED TO UNICOM THAT: 'THE ENGINE HAS QUIT; I HAVE TO GET DOWN'. THE WITNESS THEN OBSERVED THE AIRPLANE MAKING A TIGHTER-THAN- NORMAL 'BASE TO FINAL' TURN. THE AIRPLANE NOSED DOWN AND SPUN TO THE GROUND. AN EXAMINATION OF THE AIRFRAME REVEALED NO MECHANICAL PROBLEMS. THE POWERPLANT WAS REMOVED TO A TESTING FACILITY. TEARDOWN OF THE ENGINE, ACCESSORIES, AND CARBURETOR REVEALED NO MALFUNCTIONS. THE CARBURETOR, PRIOR TO TEARDOWN, WAS INSTALLED ON A SIMILAR ENGINE AND WAS SATISFACTORILY RUN IN A TEST CELL. THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED IN FLAT TERRAIN.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N9917U (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: GRUMMAN AMERICAN AA-5A
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: AA5A 0317
- Airframe hours: 3081
- Engines: LYCOMING O-320-E2G 150 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Registered owner: David R. Bellis
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, December 12, 1986, 41 hours before
- Departed: TUS, TUCSON, AZ
- Airport: RYN, Ryan Field, runway 6, 5,500 × 75 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 26; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: right; toxicology performed; flight hours: 1,315 total, 6 in this make and model, 1,062 as pilot in command, 625 in the last 90 days, 183 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 180° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 20,000 ft overcast
- Temperature: 79 °F, dew point 21 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: TUS, 13 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 19870305004609A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19870305004609A), Mar 5, 1987: Gulstm STCAA5, Tucson, AZ, Substantial damage, 3 fatal. Indicates engine was loaded up and quit. Mixture full rich and trailing smoke. Acft stalled. Has high stall speed.

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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