# NTSB NYC98LA168: Gulfstream American AA-1A, N9364L, Erial, NJ, August 16, 1998 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 16, 1998, 19:42 local (23:42 UTC) - Place: Erial, NJ - Location: 39.7734° N, 75.0063° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Erial, NJ, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.7734&lon=-75.0063&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report January 28, 2000 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 43786 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC98LA168 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/43786/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC98LA168 ## Probable cause Catastrophic failure of the number 2 engine cylinder, emanating from a corrosion pit on the outside cylinder wall. A factor was the pilot's diminished forward visibility due to oil on the windshield. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(total) - mech failure/malf, cruise - engine assembly,cylinder - failure (cause) - engine assembly,cylinder - corroded (cause) - Forced landing, descent - emergency - On ground/water collision with object, emergency landing - object - utility pole - visual lookout - diminished, pilot in command ## Analysis While at 1,500 feet, the engine developed a slight vibration. The pilot checked the fuel pump on, the mixture rich, and changed fuel tanks. The vibrations increased, and were accompanied by smoke. The pilot heard an explosive 'bang' and the cowling came up into his line of vision. Oil covered the pilot's side of the windscreen, and the engine was unable to maintain altitude. The airplane struck a telephone pole during the forced landing. Post flight inspection revealed a catastrophic failure of the engine's number two cylinder. Factory examination determined that the failure emanated from a rust pit on the outside of the cylinder wall. The cylinder, which was manufactured in July 1996, had 1,780 hours of service. ## Factual narrative On August 16, 1998, at 1942 Eastern Daylight Time, a Gulfstream American AA-1A, N9364L, was destroyed during a forced landing near Erial, New Jersey. The certificated commercial pilot received minor injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. No flight plan was filed for the flight that departed Ocean City Municipal Airport (26N), New Jersey, about 1800, for Northeast Philadelphia Airport (PNE), Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The aerial observation (traffic reporting) flight was conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. The pilot stated that while at 1,500 feet, the airplane's engine developed a slight vibration. He checked the fuel pump on, the mixture rich, and changed fuel tanks. The vibrations increased, and were accompanied by smoke. The pilot heard an explosive "bang" and the cowling came up into his line of vision. Oil covered the pilot's side of the windscreen, and the engine was unable to maintain altitude. According to a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Inspector, the airplane struck a telephone pole during the forced landing. Post-flight inspection revealed a catastrophic failure of the engine's number 2 cylinder. The cylinder barrel was subsequently examined at the Textron-Lycoming facility in Williamsport, Pennsylvania. It was reported as manufactured in July 1996, with 1,780 hours of service. Inspection revealed a fracture between the first and second cooling fins, which had completely broken through the flange, and spiraled around the barrel. The outside surface of the cylinder, in the vicinity of the fracture, was heavily corroded in areas where paint had flaked off, as well as in areas under the remaining paint. Corrosion pitting was found in some areas up to .004 inches in depth. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N9364L](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N9364L-1999-10-26), registration cancelled 1999-10-26, S/N AA1A-0064 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Gulfstream American AA-1A - Registry model: [American AA-1A](https://openairdocs.org/model/american-aa-1a) (registry code 0630710) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: A414-0064 - Airframe hours: 6937 - Engines: Lycoming O-235 108 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Flight: Aerial observation, Part 91 - Registered owner: Shaw Aviation, Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, July 31, 1998, 60 hours before - Departed: 26N, OCEAN CITY, NJ - Destination: PNE, PHILADELPHIA, PA ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 27; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 735 total, 300 in this make and model, 572 as pilot in command, 200 in the last 90 days, 90 in the last 30 days, 8 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Visibility: 9 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 15,000 ft broken - Temperature: 84 °F, dew point 70 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: PHL, 15 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 19980816021039A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19980816021039A), Aug 16, 1998: Amrgen AA1A, Erial, NJ, Destroyed. Acft crashed in a residential area. (-23) acft departed pne for a local flight, in the vicinity of Erial, NJ at 1500 feet MSL the engine started to run rought… 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.