# NTSB MIA98LA240: Grumman AA-5B, N28395, Winnsboro, SC, September 5, 1998 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: September 5, 1998, 11:17 local (15:17 UTC) - Place: Winnsboro, SC - Coordinates: 34.370662, -81.079452 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.3707&lon=-81.0795&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report January 28, 2000 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 43862 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA98LA240 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/43862/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA98LA240 ## Probable cause The loss of engine power for undetermined reasons. ## Analysis Returning to their home field after conducting practice instrument approaches, in cruise flight at 2,500 feet msl, the pilot and his safety pilot/passenger experienced a gradual loss of power. They turned toward, and were given distance and headings from Columbia ATC to the nearest airfield when they decided they wouldn't make it, and landed in a grass pasture sustaining substantial damage. Post-crash examination and operation of the engine, on the aircraft, using the pre-crash fuel source, revealed nothing that would have caused the loss of power. Using the reported meteorological conditions at the time of the accident, reference to carburetor icing charts puts this flight within the region labeled, 'visible icing @ glide and cruise power'. ## Factual narrative On September 5, 1998, about 1117 eastern daylight time, a Grumman AA-5B Tiger, N28395, registered to a private individual, operating as a 14 CFR Part 91 instructional flight, made a forced landing to a grass field following a loss of engine power near Ridgeway, South Carolina. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. The airplane received substantial damage and the private-rated pilot and a noncurrent instructor/safety pilot were not injured. The flight left Columbia, South Carolina, about 1036. The pilots stated, having finished performing practice instrument approaches at Columbia Metropolitan Airport, and en route to their home base in Lancaster County, South Carolina, in cruise flight at an altitude of 2,500 feet msl, they experienced a gradually worsening rough running engine. They performed emergency procedures for a rough running engine, including use of carburetor heat, turned toward the Winnsboro NDB, colocated at Fairfield County Airport, Winnsboro, South Carolina, the closest airfield, and declared an emergency with Columbia ATC. They were given an immediate vector for Fairfield County Airport, reported to be 10 miles from their location, but the roughness and loss of power continued until they felt their only option was an emergency landing to a grass pasture short of the runway. They further stated that as they neared their touchdown point, they realized the grass was much higher that anticipated, and hid some rough spots in the terrain. Touchdown resulted in bouncing that did most of the damage to the airframe. Subsequent examination of the engine and airframe by FAA personnel revealed no obvious cause for the loss of engine power. All engine controls were checked for continuity and functioned normally. Uncontaminated fuel was confirmed contained in both fuel tanks, as well as the electric fuel boost pump and the carburetor. All components of the ignition system functioned normally. The engine was started and run to near takeoff power, on the airplane, with the fuel supply that was aboard, precrash. A carburetor heat and magneto functional check proved satisfactory. The engine was shut down and re-examined with no defects noted. The report of the FAA examination is included in this report under, "Reports from Other Federal Agencies". Reference to carburetor icing probability charts reveals that an ambient temperature of 86 degrees F and a dew point temperature of 68 degrees F, as reported by Columbia AFSS for the time period of the accident, would put the flight's probability well within the region labeled, "visible icing @glide and cruise power". A copy of the chart is included in this report under, "Other Pertinent Forms and Reports". ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(partial) - nonmechanical, cruise - weather condition - carburetor icing conditions - reason for occurrence undetermined - Forced landing, descent - emergency - terrain condition - grass - soft field landing/procedure - not followed, pilot in command (cause) - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - roll - terrain condition - high vegetation - terrain condition - rough/uneven ## Aircraft - Registration: [N28395](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N28395-2012-08-27), registration cancelled 2012-08-27, S/N AA5B0588, built 1977 (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) - 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: AA5B0588 - Airframe hours: 2333 - Engines: Lycoming O-360-A4K 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Registered owner: Thomas W. Nunnery - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, June 24, 1998, 5 hours before - Departed: CAE, COLUMBIA, SC - Destination: LKR, LANCASTER, SC ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 70; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 1,020 total, 900 in this make and model, 950 as pilot in command, 6 in the last 90 days, 3 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 230° at 3 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 86 °F, dew point 68 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: CAE, 25 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 19980905034529A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19980905034529A), Sep 5, 1998: Gulstm AA5B, Winnsboro, SC, Substantial damage. On September 5, 1998, at about 1117 local time, a Grumman AA-5B tiger, N28395, experienced engine power loss in cruise flight near Winnsboro, SC. The… 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.