# NTSB LAX87LA273: Grumman AA-5B, N28452, Lake Tahoe, CA, July 20, 1987

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: July 20, 1987, 16:47 local (23:47 UTC)
- Place: Lake Tahoe, CA
- Location: 38.8939° N, 119.9953° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs at LAKE TAHOE (TVL), within about a mile (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.8939&lon=-119.9953&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Taxi](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/250) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report November 8, 1988
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 25642
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX87LA273
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/25642/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX87LA273

## Sequence of events

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

- On ground/water collision with object, taxi - to takeoff
  - object - airport facility (contributing factor)
  - landing gear,normal brake system - failure,total (cause)
  - fluid,hydraulic - lack of (contributing factor)
  - maintenance,service of aircraft/equipment - inadequate, pilot in command (contributing factor)

## Analysis

WHILE TAXIING TO THE RWY, THE PLT STATED THAT THE RIGHT BRAKE FAILED. THE ACFT ROLLED OFF THE TAXIWAY AND COLLIDED WITH A TRANSFORMER. INSPECTION OF THE BRAKE REVEALED THAT THE BRAKE LININGS WERE WORN AND THAT THE PISTON IN THE HYDRAULIC CYLINDER HAD TRAVELED PAST THE O-RING ALLOWING A LOSS OF PRESSURE.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N28452](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N28452-1997-02-18), registration cancelled 1997-02-18, S/N AA5B0617 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: GRUMMAN AA-5B
- Registry model: [Grumman American Avn. AA-5B](https://openairdocs.org/model/grumman-american-avn-aa-5b) (registry code 3960105) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: AA5B0617
- Airframe hours: 2019
- Engines: LYCOMING O-360-A4K 180 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Martin B. Mills
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, April 4, 1987, 19 hours before
- Departed: LAKE TAHOE, CA
- Destination: OAK, OAKLAND, CA
- Airport: TVL, Lake Tahoe

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 42; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 268 total, 147 in this make and model, 197 as pilot in command, 76 in the last 90 days, 18 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 180° at 15 knots
- Visibility: 40 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 5,000 ft broken
- Temperature: 70 °F, dew point 27 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: TVL

## 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 19870720065549A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19870720065549A), Jul 20, 1987: Gulstm AA5B, South Lake Taho, CA, Substantial damage. The aircraft hit a transformer when the right brake failed during taxi. Worn pads allowed piston past seals.

## Other investigations on N28452 (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 SEA96LA146](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA96LA146), Jul 8, 1996: Grumman American AA-5B (N28452), St Maries, ID, destroyed, 1 fatal. Probable cause: the pilot's impairment of judgment and performance due to a drug (marijuana), and his failure to see-and-avoid power lines. The pilot's intentional low altitude flight was a related factor.

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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