# NTSB SEA03LA017: Grumman American AA-1C, N9526U, Rigby, ID, November 23, 2002 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: November 23, 2002, 11:49 local (18:49 UTC) - Place: Rigby, ID - Coordinates: 43.638332, -111.928337 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.6383&lon=-111.9283&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report September 30, 2003 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 56175 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA03LA017 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/56175/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA03LA017 ## Probable cause The pilot's selection of a fuel tank with inadequate fuel resulting in fuel starvation and a complete power loss during the initial climb. A contributing factor was the ditch which the aircraft impacted during the forced landing resulting in the collapse of the nose landing gear. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, takeoff - initial climb - fuel tank selector position - improper, pilot in command (cause) - fluid,fuel - starvation (cause) - Forced landing, emergency landing after takeoff - Nose gear collapsed, emergency landing - terrain condition - ditch (contributing factor) ## Analysis The pilot reported that immediately following takeoff, the engine lost power. The pilot performed an emergency landing in an open field and during the roll out impacted a ditch, resulting in the collapse of the nose landing gear. The pilot reported that the power loss was a result of a lack of fuel in the selected tank. ## Factual narrative On November 23, 2002, approximately 1149 mountain standard time, a Grumman American AA-1C, N9526U, registered to an individual, and being flown by a commercial pilot sustained substantial damage during a forced landing following a total loss of power shortly after takeoff near Rigby, Idaho. The pilot was uninjured and there was no fire. Visual meteorological conditions were reported at the Rexburg airport nearby, and no flight plan had been filed. The flight, which was personal, was operated under 14CFR91, and originated from the Rigby-Jefferson County airport, Rigby, Idaho, departing approximately 1145. In a written statement, the pilot reported that during the climb out after takeoff, the engine experienced a power loss. The pilot performed an emergency landing in an open field and during the roll out impacted a ditch and the nose landing gear collapsed. The pilot stated, "...the reason for the power loss was a lack of fuel in the selected tank..." and that "...this came as a surprise because the tank had been full during the preflight inspection...." He further stated, "...I had only been flying for about one hour when it ran out of gas...." In a telephone interview with the pilot shortly after the accident, he reported to the Investigator in Charge, that he had flown for about an hour and then landed at Rigby to talk to an acquaintance. He stated he was taking off from Rigby when at 300 feet AGL the engine rapidly lost power with no reported vibration or unusual sounds. He felt he was too low to attempt a restart and executed a forced landing. When the Investigator queried him as to whether he had any idea what might have happened, he volunteered that it was "fuel starvation" (i.e., less fuel than he expected in the selected fuel tank). He related that he had gassed the aircraft the previous day and then had flown an hour on the left tank. On the day of the accident he flew for about an hour, landed at Rigby, and then took off again whereupon the engine quit. He reported that each tank holds 11 gallons. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N9526U](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N9526U), registered now, S/N AA1C0020, built 1977 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Grumman American AA-1C - Registry model: [Grumman American Avn. AA-1C](https://openairdocs.org/model/grumman-american-avn-aa-1c) (registry code 3960100) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-235 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-235-series) (registry code 41505, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: AAIC-0020 - Airframe hours: 1695 - Engines: Lycoming O-235-L2C 118 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Hart, Eldon C. (dba Hart Enterprises, Inc.) - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, September 5, 2002, 28 hours before - Departed: U56, Rigby, ID - Destination: RXE, Rexburg, ID ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 28; injuries: none; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; last flight review October 26, 2002; seat: left; flight hours: 1,116 total, 30 in this make and model, 957 as pilot in command, 144 in the last 90 days, 91 in the last 30 days, 5 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 160° at 6 knots - Visibility: 4 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 2,700 ft broken - Temperature: 37 °F, dew point 36 °F - Altimeter: 29.90 inHg - Observed at: RXE, 12 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 20021123032009A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20021123032009A), Nov 23, 2002: Amrgen AA1C, Rigby, ID, Substantial damage. (-23) Departed Rigby, ID airport and lost power during climb out. Applied carb. Heat and power improved. Attempted to return to airport and force landed in a… ## Other investigations on N9526U (2) 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 SEA80DYA02](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA80DYA02), Oct 17, 1979: Amer Avco AA1-C (N9526U), Rexburg, ID, substantial damage - [NTSB SEA79DYA08](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA79DYA08), Jan 22, 1979: Amer Avco AA1-C (N9526U), Rexburg, ID, 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. --- 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.