# NTSB MIA08LA041: Grumman American AA-5B, N414DJ, Norwood, MA, January 17, 2008 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: January 17, 2008, 14:11 local (19:11 UTC) - Place: Norwood, MA - Coordinates: 42.193889, -71.17778 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.1939&lon=-71.1778&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Initial climb: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report March 31, 2008 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Boston FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 67397 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA08LA041 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/67397/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA08LA041 ## Probable cause The loss of engine power for undetermined reasons. *This report was modified on May 20, 2008.* ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Not determined](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000): Not determined › Not determined · Unknown/Not determined (probable cause); cases with it: [Grumman American Avn. AA-5B, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md?model=3960105), [All aircraft, 2,247 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md) - [Terrain](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021000): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Not specified; cases with it: [Grumman American Avn. AA-5B, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021000/cases.md?model=3960105), [All aircraft, 267 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021000/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Initial climb: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) (defining event); cases with it: [Grumman American Avn. AA-5B, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=3960105), [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-5B, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=3960105), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md) - [Landing: Collision during takeoff/land](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490); cases with it: [Grumman American Avn. AA-5B, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490/sequence.md?model=3960105), [All aircraft, 1,309 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490/sequence.md) ## Analysis According to the pilot, after normal preflight and engine run-up, he departed runway 17 and noted that the engine was developing 2250 revolutions per minute. Initial climb out was normal, but after reaching about 200 feet above ground level the engine suddenly sputtered and lost power. He declared an emergency, and with little runway left to land straight ahead, he maneuvered the airplane to look for an alternative landing site. He stated that the airplane was just above stall speed when he landed in soft wetlands adjacent to the runway. Examination of the airplane by an FAA Inspector found the fuel tanks full, with no contamination. The throttle, mixture, carburetor heat controls, and flight controls functioned normally. Engine continuity was established through to the accessory section when the propeller was rotated by hand. Additionally, at the time of takeoff, the air temperature was 31 degrees Fahrenheit, dew point temperature 23 degrees Fahrenheit, and humidity was 67 percent. According to the FAA's Icing Probability Curve, at the above temperature, dew point and humidity, the icing curve indicates visible icing at rated power for float type carburetors. ## Factual narrative On January 17, 2008, about 1411 eastern standard time, a Grumman American AA-5B, N414DJ, registered to Super Tiger LLC, and operated by a commercial pilot, collided into a frozen marsh following a loss of engine power shortly after take-off from the Woodward Memorial Airport (OWD), in Norwood, Massachusetts. The personal flight was operated under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 with no flight plan filed. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. The pilot reported no injuries and the airplane sustained substantial damage. The flight was originating at the time of the accident. According to the pilot, after normal preflight and engine run-up, he departed runway 17 and noted that the engine was developing 2250 revolutions per minute. Initial climb out was normal, but after reaching about 200 feet above ground level the engine suddenly sputtered and quit. He declared an emergency, and with little runway left to land straight ahead, he maneuvered the airplane to look for an alternative landing site. He stated that the airplane was just above stall speed when he landed in soft wetlands adjacent to the runway. The airplane impacted in a normal attitude, but when the nose gear touched down it sheared off. The left wing impacted the soil and caused the airplane to spin about 180 degrees and come to rest upright. Damage to the airplane consisted of both wings, the nose gear and engine firewall. Examination of the airplane by an FAA Inspector found the fuel tanks full, with no contamination. The throttle, mixture, carburetor heat controls, and flight controls functioned normally. Engine continuity was established through to the accessory section when the propeller was rotated by hand. At the time of takeoff, the air temperature was 31 degrees Fahrenheit, dew point temperature 23 degrees Fahrenheit, and humidity 67 percent. According to the FAA's Icing Probability Curve, at the above temperature, dew point and humidity, the curve indicates visible icing at rated power for float type carburetors. *This report was modified on May 20, 2008.* ## Aircraft - Registration: [N414DJ](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N414DJ), registered now, S/N AA5B1298, built 1979 (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: 1298 - Airframe hours: 1756 - Engines: Lycoming O-360- 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Douglas James Weir - Registered owner: Super Tiger LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, June 1, 2007, 96 hours before - Departed: KOWD, Norwood, MA - Destination: LDJ, Linden, NJ - Airport: OWD, Norwood Memorial Airport, runway 17, 4,008 × 100 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 46; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review December 1, 2006; seat: left; flight hours: 1,374 total, 1,091 in this make and model, 1,325 as pilot in command, 39 in the last 90 days, 19 in the last 30 days, 6 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 200° at 5 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 30 °F, dew point 23 °F - Altimeter: 30.30 inHg - Observed at: KOWD ## 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 20080117000239A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20080117000239A), Jan 17, 2008: Amrgen AA5B, Norwood, MA, Substantial damage. (-23) The pilot [privacy data omitted] was cleared for take-off on runway 17 at approximately 1400 on 01/17/2008. Pilot's written and oral statements indicated… 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.