MIA97FA217

The aircraft had a history of fuel caps leaking water into the fuel tanks, and repairs had been attempted. About 3 to 4 inches of rain had fallen since the aircraft was refueled about two days before the accident. Water was found in the fuel tanks during the preflight inspection. After takeoff the engine lost power, and the pilots decided to return to the airport. The second pilot stated the pilot-in-command was flying the aircraft, and after reversing course, the stall horn activated. Subsequently, the aircraft crashed on a road after clearing a building, a 25 foot sign, and a 25 foot palm tree. Postcrash examination showed the engine fuel system contained water contamination; there was no evidence of engine mechanical failure or malfunction. The left and right fuel tank caps were found to leak water into the tanks during postcrash tests. The pilot-in-command's logbook showed he last flew 11 months before the accident.

History of flight

On July 25, 1997, about 1813 eastern daylight time, a Gulfstream American AA-5B, N28246, registered to Mile High Productions, Inc., crashed while returning to land following loss of engine power at Naples Municipal Airport, Naples, Florida, while on a Title 14 CFR Part 91 aerial advertising flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan was filed. The aircraft received substantial damage and the commercial-rated pilot received fatal injuries. The private-rated second pilot received serious injuries. The flight was originating at the time of the accident.

The second pilot stated that the flight was an aerial advertising training flight. They were to fly in formation with four other aircraft and use the smoke systems on the five aircraft for aerial writing. He was on the flight to instruct the pilot in the use of the smoke system and aerial advertising procedures. He assisted the pilot with the preflight inspection and when they drained the sumps for the left fuel tank they observed water in the sample. The aircraft had been topped off with fuel about 2 days before the accident and between the fueling and the day of the accident it had rained about 3 to 4 inches. After draining about 8 ounces of fuel they no longer observed water in the sample. They did not observe any water in the right fuel tank samples.

Taxi, engine runup prior to takeoff, and takeoff on runway 5 were normal. Shortly after takeoff, when climbing through 350-400 feet, there was a sudden partial loss of engine power. He and the pilot agreed to try and make it back to the runway. They reversed course and aligned with runway 23. The stall indicator horn activated and the pilot traded altitude for airspeed. The stall horn stopped activating. The engine was now running at 1200-1500 rpm and they started losing altitude quickly. He does not remember anything after this.

The Air Traffic Controller at the Naples Municipal Airport Control Tower stated a flight of five Grumman American aircraft departed on runway 5 in formation. One of the pilots reported losing power and had to return for landing. He cleared the flight to land on any runway. He observed the aircraft in a turn at about 200 feet agl, trying to return to runway 23. The pilot then reported we are going in. The aircraft descended from sight about 1/2 mile from the approach end of runway 23.

A witness reported hearing an aircraft with the engine stalling out. She then observed N28246 flying in a westerly direction. As the aircraft flew westerly the engine would run for about 2 seconds and then stall out for about 2 seconds. It continued running in this manner. The aircraft was losing altitude and was just above the buildings in the area. During the short time the engine would run, the aircraft would gain a little altitude. The aircraft was banking "left to right wildly". The left wing of the airplane then dropped down to about a 45 degree angle to the ground. The nosed then dropped down and the aircraft descended nose first toward the ground. She then lost sight of the aircraft behind a building.

Personnel information

The pilot held an FAA commercial pilot certificate with airplane single engine and instrument airplane ratings. He held a FAA second class medical certificate issued on June 11, 1997, with no limitations. The pilot's logbook showed the pilot received a biennial flight review on June 22, 1996, as required by Title 14 CFR Part 61.56. The pilot's last flight logged was on August 31, 1996. Title 14 CFR Part 61.57 requires that within the preceding 90 calendar days a person must have three takeoffs and three landings as the sole manipulator of the controls in an aircraft prior to acting as the pilot in command of an aircraft carrying passengers. The second pilot stated that this was the first flight for this pilot with the aerial advertising company.

Additional information on the pilot-in-command and information on the second pilot is contained in First Pilot Information, Supplement E, and in attachments to this report.

Aircraft information

The second pilot stated he performed the maintenance on the aircraft. He stated that he had observed water contamination in the left fuel tank in May 1997 and suspected the fuel cap o-rings were defective. While replacing the o-rings, the shaft on the cap broke. He then obtained a used cap, changed the o-rings, and installed the cap on the left tank of N28246. After changing the o-rings on the left cap he performed a leak check and observed no leaks.

Additional aircraft information is contained in Aircraft Information and in attachments to this report.

Meteorological information

Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. Additional meteorological information is contained in Weather Information.

Communications

The NTSB requested a transcript and re-recorder of communications between the pilots of N28246 and Air Traffic Controllers at the Naples Non-Federal Control Tower. Review of the recording tapes by Air Traffic Controllers showed that the recorder had malfunctioned on July 25, 1997, and the transcripts or re-recordings could not be produced. See attached letter from the Naples Control Tower Manager.

Wreckage and impact information

The aircraft crashed on Airport Road at the intersection of South Horseshoe Drive, Naples, Florida. Examination of the crash site showed the aircraft cleared a building, a 25 foot advertising sign, and a 25 foot palm tree on the east side of Airport Road, while on a southwesterly heading. The aircraft's descent angle was in excess of 25 degrees. The aircraft touched down hard on the northbound lanes of Airport Road. During touchdown the landing gear collapsed and separated from the aircraft. The aircraft skidded about 80 feet after touchdown and came to rest against a sign on the west side of Airport Road.

All components of the aircraft necessary to sustain flight were located on or around the main wreckage of the aircraft. Continuity of all flight and engine control cables was established. Testing of the stall warning system showed it operated normally.

Examination of the aircraft and engine fuel system showed both fuel tanks had been ruptured and most fuel had leaked from the tanks. The left and right fuel tank sumps had been crushed and did not contain any fuel. The fuel selector valve was found positioned on the left fuel tank. The fuel valve operated normally during testing. All fuel lines were found unobstructed. The fuel line into the electric boost pump had separated during the accident. A mixture of fuel, water, and rust debris was found in the inlet side of the electric pump and the interior of the pump had corrosion and rust on the surfaces. The electric fuel boost pump was operated and it expelled a mixture of water, fuel and debris from the outlet side of the pump.

The fuel line between the electric pump and engine-driven fuel pump was still attached to each pump and was found to contain a mixture of fuel and water. The engine driven pump was found to contain a mixture of fuel and water, and the interior surfaces of the pump had corrosion and rust on them.

Examination of the carburetor showed all fuel had leaked from the bowl after the accident. The fuel inlet screen to the carburetor had rust and corrosion on it. All passages within the carburetor were unobstructed and the float and shutoff needle valve operated normally.

Examination of the left and right fuel tank caps showed that the large o-ring on the outer diameter of the caps had rolled over in the groove and some rust was present on the o-ring. Leak testing of each cap on the tank after the accident showed that each cap leaked water into the tank opening when water was poured over the outside of the closed cap.

All fuel and water specimens obtained from the fuel system did not foam when shaken in a bottle. A sample o