# NTSB LAX89LA267: Grumman American AA-5B, N28565, Terminal Island, CA, August 8, 1989

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: August 8, 1989, 12:09 local (19:09 UTC)
- Place: Terminal Island, CA
- Coordinates: 33.73019, -118.290618 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.7302&lon=-118.2906&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report March 25, 1991
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 26471
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX89LA267
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/26471/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX89LA267

## Probable cause

THE FATIGUE FAILURE OF AN EXHAUST VALVE DUE TO EXCESSIVE WEAR OF THE RESPECTIVE VALVE GUIDE.  FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE:  THE FENCE & CARS IN THE EMERGENCY LANDING AREA.

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of engine power(partial) - mech failure/malf, cruise
  - engine assembly,valve,exhaust - worn (cause)
  - engine assembly,valve,exhaust - fatigue (cause)
- Forced landing, descent - emergency
- On ground/water collision with object, landing - roll
  - object - fence (contributing factor)
  - object - vehicle (contributing factor)

## Analysis

DURING AN OVERWATER FLT TO CROSS A 23 MI CHANNEL, THE ENG BEGAN TO RUN ROUGH & LOOSE POWER. THE PLT TURNED TOWARD THE SHORE & MADE A FORCED LANDING ON A DIRT ROAD ON TERMINAL ISLAND. BEFORE THE ACFT STOPPED, IT COLLIDED WITH A FENCE & SVRL PARKED CARS IN A STORAGE LOT. AN EXAM OF THE ENG REVEALED THE TOP OF THE #1 PISTON & THE #1 CYLINDER HEAD WERE SEVERELY BATTERED; THE #1 EXHAUST VALVE HEAD HAD SEPD FROM ITS STEM & WAS FOUND IN THE EXHAUST SYSTEM; THE EXHAUST VALVE GUIDE WAS SEVERELY WORN AT THE EXHAUST PORT; AND THE VALVE STEM AREA WAS HEAVILY CORRODED & COKED WITH EXHAUST RESIDUE. A FATIGUE FRACTURE WAS IDENTIFIED ON A PORTION OF THE VALVE HEAD THAT WAS NOT DAMAGED. A METALLURGICAL EXAM REVEALED EVIDENCE THAT THE VALVE HAD FAILED FROM FATIGUE DUE TO OVERHEATING, WHICH RESULTED FROM A WORN OR BELL MOUTHED VALVE GUIDE.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N28565](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N28565), registered now, S/N AA5B0684, built 1977 (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: AA5B-0684
- Airframe hours: 1393
- Engines: LYCOMING O-360-A4K 180 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Brown, Gerald B.
- Registered owner: Louis F. Johnson
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, December 22, 1988, 40 hours before
- Departed: LGB, LONG BEACH, CA
- Destination: AVX, AVALON, CA

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 53; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land, single-engine sea; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 7,000 total, 10 in this make and model, 7,000 as pilot in command, 45 in the last 90 days, 10 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 190° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 40 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 81 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg

## 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 19890808032579A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19890808032579A), Aug 8, 1989: Gulstm AA5A, Terminal Island, CA, Substantial damage. Engine lost power. Landed on a dirt road and collided with vehicles. A cylinder valve head had broken off.

## Other investigations on N28565 (2)

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 LAX98LA137](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX98LA137), Apr 18, 1998: Grumman American AA5B (N28565), Aguanga, CA, substantial damage. Probable cause: the lack of available published information regarding obstructions and nonstandard lighting at the private airport, and the lack of a lighted and properly marked displaced threshold.
- [NTSB MIA78DKJ46](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA78DKJ46), May 30, 1978: Amer Avco AA-5B (N28565), Pensacola, FL, substantial damage

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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