# NTSB NYC88DNA01: Grosvenor Quickie, N3774X, Middletown, RI, February 28, 1988

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Final report
- Date: February 28, 1988, 10:33 local (15:33 UTC)
- Place: Middletown, RI
- Location: 41.5457° N, 71.2914° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Middletown, RI, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.5457&lon=-71.2914&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report October 20, 1992
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 35984
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC88DNA01
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/35984/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC88DNA01

## Probable cause

THE WORN PROPELLER TRANSMISSION (REDUCTION GEAR ASSEMBLY), WHICH FAILED TO TRANSMIT POWER TO THE PROPELLER AT A CRITICAL POINT IN THE GO-AROUND.

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Airframe/component/system failure/malfunction, go-around (vfr)
  - object - aircraft moving on ground
  - aborted landing - initiated, pilot in command
  - reduction gear assy - worn (cause)
  - go-around - not possible
- Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown
  - flare - not attained

## Analysis

THE PILOT OF THE HOMEBUILT AIRCRAFT INITIATED A GO-AROUND BECAUSE OF TRAFFIC ON THE RUNWAY IN FRONT OF HIM. HE STATED THAT HE 'PUSHED THE THROTTLE FORWARD TO GO-AROUND. MY ENGINE WENT INTO A HIGH REV AND THE POWER WAS NOT TRANSMITTED TO THE PROPELLER.'  THE PILOT PROCEEDED WITH THE LANDING, BUT THE AIRCRAFT WAS IN A NOSE HIGH ATTITUDE FROM THE ATTEMPTED GO-AROUND. THE AIRSPEED DECREASED, THE AIRCRAFT DEVELOPED A HIGH SINK RATE AND TOUCHED DOWN HARD ON THE RUNWAY. AN INVESTIGATION DETERMINED THAT THE PROPELLER TRANSMISSION (REDUCTION DRIVE ASSEMBLY) FAILED DUE TO EXCESSIVE WEAR OF THE CLUTCH MECHANISM. THE TRANSMISSION HAD ACCUMULATED 169 HOURS IN SERVICE SINCE IT WAS INSTALLED ON THE AIRCRAFT. THE MANUFACTURER RECOMMENDED OVERHAUL AT 1000 HOURS TOTAL TIME.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N3774X](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N3774X-1994-07-19), registration cancelled 1994-07-19, S/N QA213 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: GROSVENOR QUICKIE
- Registry model: [Grosvenor Richard QUICKIE](https://openairdocs.org/model/grosvenor-richard-quickie) (registry code 05645BE) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number: QA-213
- Airframe hours: 390
- Engines: KAWASAKI TB-340A 32 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Richard Grosvenor
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special)
- Last inspection: Annual, February 17, 1988, 1 hours before
- Departed: 2B4
- Destination: 2B4
- Airport: 2B4, Newport State, runway 4, 3,000 × 75 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 60; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: center; flight hours: 692 total, 390 in this make and model, 5 in the last 90 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: variable at 5 knots
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 25 °F, dew point -0 °F

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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