# NTSB NYC03LA150: Grumman American AA5B, N1966L, Block Island, RI, July 5, 2003 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 5, 2003, 11:00 local (15:00 UTC) - Place: Block Island, RI - Coordinates: 41.168056, -71.577774 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.1681&lon=-71.5778&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 4 minor - Status: Completed, report September 1, 2004 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 57386 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC03LA150 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/57386/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC03LA150 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain directional control while landing, after a loss of engine power as reported by the pilot. Factors in this accident were the pilot's improper flare, which resulted in a hard landing, and the crosswind condition. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(partial) - nonmechanical, approach - vfr pattern - final approach - reason for occurrence undetermined - Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown - flare - improper, pilot in command (contributing factor) - weather condition - crosswind (contributing factor) - Loss of control - on ground/water, landing - aborted - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - On ground/water collision with object, landing - aborted - object - aircraft parked/standing ## Analysis The airplane was in the traffic pattern to land on runway 28, a 2,501-foot-long, 100-foot-wide, asphalt runway. The pilot reported that when he turned onto the final approach, the engine began "coughing and sputtering." He then "stretched" the landing to make the runway. The airplane struck the runway hard, bounced, and the engine then gained full power. The airplane veered off the right side of the runway and struck three parked airplanes, which were located about 1,200 feet from the approach end of the runway, and 500 feet to the right of it. A passenger seated in the right front seat stated that the airplane was close to the runway, less than "100 feet above the ground," when he heard the engine "cough or sputter." He observed the pilot pull the throttle back and the airplane struck the runway "hard." The pilot pushed the throttle in, and the engine seemed to "rev up." The airplane then departed the right side of the runway. Another passenger stated that it seemed like the engine became quieter just before landing, "almost simultaneously," with the airplane contacting the runway. Examination of the airplane and engine did not reveal any pre-impact malfunctions. Two weather observations taken at the airport around the time of the accident, reported that the winds were from 240 degrees at 15 knots, and from 250 degrees at 15 knots, with 17 knot gusts. ## Factual narrative On July 5, 2003, about 1100 eastern daylight time, a Grumman AA5B, N1966L, was substantially damaged while landing at the Block Island State Airport (BID), Block Island, Rhode Island. The certificated private pilot and three passengers sustained minor injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan had been filed for the flight that departed the Francis S. Gabreski Airport (FOK), Westhampton Beach, New York. The personal flight was conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. The pilot stated that the flight toward Block Island was uneventful, and he entered the traffic pattern for runway 28, a 2,501-foot-long, 100-foot-wide, asphalt runway. The airplane was at an altitude of 1,200 feet, when he turned onto the base leg, and the engine "burbled" momentarily. When the pilot turned onto the final approach, the engine began "coughing and sputtering." He applied carburetor heat, and switched magnetos; without any improvement in engine performance. The engine did not quit completely and the pilot did not recall what the engine rpm was. The pilot "stretched" the landing to make the runway. The airplane struck the runway hard, bounced, and the engine then gained full power. The airplane veered off the right side of the runway and struck several parked airplanes. The passenger seated in the right front seat stated that the airplane was close to the runway, less than "100 feet above the ground," when he heard the engine "cough or sputter." He observed the pilot pull the throttle back and the airplane struck the runway "hard." The pilot pushed the throttle in, and the engine seemed to "rev up." The airplane then departed the right side of the runway. The passenger seated in the right rear seat stated that the flight was uneventful until the landing. The airplane "dipped to the left," and struck the runway "really hard." The airplane then turned to the right and she felt it hit something. She was not able to see out the window. When asked to describe the engine noise, she stated it seemed like the engine became quieter just before landing, "almost simultaneously," with the airplane contacting the runway. The passenger seated in the left rear seat stated that the flight and approach seemed normal until she heard a "funny noise," that she further described as a "hick-up." She then felt the airplane contact the runway "really hard, like it fell out of the sky." She was not certain how much time had elapsed from the moment she heard the hick-up, until the airplane contacted the runway. The pilot reported he that departed Gabreski Airport with 38 gallons of fuel onboard, and flew the entire flight utilizing the left fuel tank. On site examination of the airplane by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector did not reveal any pre-impact malfunctions. The engine was retained for further examination. According to the inspector, the airplane struck three other airplanes, which were parked about 1,200 feet from the approach end of the runway, and 500 feet to the right of it. A teardown of the engine conducted under the supervision of an FAA inspector did not revealed any pre-impact malfunctions. The airplane had been operated for about 20 hours since it's most recent annual inspection, which was performed on June 19, 2003. The pilot reported 584 hours of total flight experience, which included 35 hours in the same make and model as the accident airplane. Winds reported at BID at 1055, were from 240 degrees at 15 knots. At 1115, the winds were from 250 degrees at 15 knots, with 17 knot gusts. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N1966L](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N1966L), registered now, S/N AA5B1220, built 1979 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Grumman American AA5B - Registry model: [Gulfstream American AA-5B](https://openairdocs.org/model/gulfstream-american-aa-5b) (registry code 3970106) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming IO-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-360-series) (registry code 41881, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 1220 - Airframe hours: 2543 - Engines: Lycoming O-360-A4K 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Tiger 1966L Corp. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, June 19, 2003, 20 hours before - Departed: FOK, W. Hampton Bch., NY - Destination: BID, Block Island, RI - Airport: BID, Block Island State, runway 28, 2,501 × 100 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 54; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review June 18, 2002; seat: left; flight hours: 584 total, 35 in this make and model, 510 as pilot in command, 6 in the last 90 days, 2 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 240° at 15 knots - Visibility: 4 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 75 °F, dew point 66 °F - Altimeter: 29.82 inHg - Observed at: BID ## 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 20030705013719A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20030705013719A), Jul 5, 2003: Amrgen AA5B, Block Island, RI, Substantial damage. (-23) On final approach into kbid engine started burbling and lost power at approximately 1000 feet altitude, pilot continued in an uncontrolled descent, stall… 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.