# NTSB NYC83FA110: Grumman American AA5B, N28426, Bedminster, NJ, May 13, 1983

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: May 13, 1983, 16:55 local (20:55 UTC)
- Place: Bedminster, NJ
- Location: 40.6743° N, 74.6605° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Bedminster, NJ, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.6743&lon=-74.6605&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 2 serious, 1 minor
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 35044
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC83FA110
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/35044/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC83FA110

## 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 - normal
  - engine assembly,valve,intake - failure,total (cause)
- Forced landing, landing - flare/touchdown
  - proper touchdown point - exceeded, pilot in command (cause)
  - distance - misjudged, pilot in command (cause)
  - go-around - attempted, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with object, go-around (vfr)
  - object - tree(s) (contributing factor)

## Analysis

THE ACFT CRASHED INTO TREES DURING A FORCED LANDING AFTER A LOSS OF POWER WHILE ENROUTE FROM WHITE PLAINS. THE ENGINE STARTED TO SHAKE AND THE RPMS DECREASED. THE PLT INITIATED EMERGENCY PROCEDURES BUT THE ENGINE CONTINUED TO RUN ROUGHLY.A DECISION WAS MADE TO LAND AT SOMERSET ARPT. THE LANDING APPROACH WAS HIGH AND THE PLT ELECTED TO GO AROUND. THE ENGINEPOWER WAS NOT ENOUGH AND A FULL STALL FLAPS UP LANDING WAS MADE INTO THE TREE TOPS. THE ACFT SLID DOWN THE TREES AND STOPPED IN A PAST VERTICAL NOSE DOWN POSITION. DURING A POST ACCIDENT ENGINE EXAMINATION THE #1 CYLINDER HAD NO COMPRESSION. THE EXHAUST VALVE WAS BROKEN AND THE VALVE HEAD WAS NOT FOUND. THE CYLINDER EXHAUST VALVE GUIDE MEASURED .515. THE SPECIFICATION WHEN NEW IS .4985. THE SERVICE LIMIT IS .4995.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N28426](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N28426-2024-06-29), registration cancelled 2024-06-29, S/N AA5B0606, built 1977 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: GRUMMAN AMERICAN AA5B
- 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-0606
- Airframe hours: 1556
- Engines: Avco Lycoming O-360-A4K 180 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Part 135
- Registered owner: Hortmont Aviation Services
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, December 1, 1982, 82 hours before
- Departed: HPN, WHITE PLAINS, NY
- Destination: N88, DOYLESTOWN, PA
- Flight plan: Company VFR
- Airport: N52, Somerset, runway 12, 2,770 × 60 ft, macadam

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 50; airline transport, flight instructor; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine sea, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 4,795 total, 550 in this make and model, 4,380 as pilot in command, 30 in the last 90 days, 9 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 315° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 70 °F, dew point 50 °F

## 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 19830513076009A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19830513076009A), May 13, 1983: Gulstm AA5B, Bedminster, NJ, Substantial damage. Exhaust valve failed by worn guide, led to partial power loss. Hit trees on go around after high approach to runway.

## Other investigations on N28426 (1)

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 NYC78FDH16](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC78FDH16), May 30, 1978: Grum Amer AA5 (N28426), Cross Keys, NJ, 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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