# NTSB NYC88LA057: Grumman AA-5A, N74085, Rome, NY, December 15, 1987

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: December 15, 1987, 11:00 local (15:00 UTC)
- Place: Rome, NY
- Coordinates: 43.210063, -75.469337 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.2101&lon=-75.4693&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious
- Status: Completed, report May 26, 1989
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 36076
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC88LA057
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/36076/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC88LA057

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of engine power, cruise - normal
  - fluid,oil - starvation (cause)
  - engine assembly,connecting rod - failure,total (cause)
  - engine assembly,rocker arm/tappet - chafed (cause)
- Forced landing, descent - emergency
  - weather condition - snow
  - weather condition - gusts
- In flight collision with terrain/water, landing - flare/touchdown
  - object - tree(s) (contributing factor)

## Analysis

THE FLIGHT WAS ENROUTE FROM WATERTOWN TO GLENS FALLS, NEW YORK WHEN SNOW SQUALLS OF VARYING INTENSITY AND GUSTY WIND CONDITIONS WERE ENCOUNTERED. THE PILOT STATED THAT FORWARD VISIBILITY WAS MARGINAL. THE ENGINE FAILED SHORTLY AFTER CHANGING HEADING TOWARDS UTICA, NEW YORK. THE PILOT IMMEDIATELY SET UP FOR A FORCED LANDING IN A FIELD, BUT DURING THE APPROACH, THE AIRCRAFT CLIPPED TREE TOPS, DESCENDED TO THE GND, HIT LEFT WING FIRST, AND FLIPPED OVER. POST ACC ENG DISASSEMBLY REVEALED A BROKEN #2 CONNECTING ROD AND EVIDENCE OF LOCALIZED OIL STARVATION. OIL FLOW TO #2 CONNECTING ROD WAS OBSTRUCTED BY METAL PARTICLES FROM SPALLED VALVE TAPPET FACE.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N74085](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N74085-1989-09-18), registration cancelled 1989-09-18, S/N AA5B0122 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: GRUMMAN AA-5A
- Registry model: [Grumman American Avn. AA-5B](https://openairdocs.org/model/grumman-american-avn-aa-5b) (registry code 3960105) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: AA-5-0122
- Airframe hours: 1607
- Engines: LYCOMING O-360-A4K 180 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Dick Lee
- Registered owner: Richard Lee
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, February 19, 1987
- Departed: ART, WATERTOWN, NY
- Destination: GFL, GLENS FALLS, NY

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 63; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 1,209 total, 1,208 in this make and model, 1,154 as pilot in command, 11 in the last 90 days, 2 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Day
- Visibility: 3 statute miles

## 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 19871215070299A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19871215070299A), Dec 15, 1987: Gulstm AA5A, Rome, NY, Substantial damage. Engine quit. Struck trees and crashed trying to make an open field. An engine connecting rod had failed.

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.