# NTSB WPR13LA432: Grumman American Avn. AA 1C, N9923U, Hemet, CA, September 9, 2013 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: September 9, 2013, 11:15 local (18:15 UTC) - Place: Hemet, CA - Coordinates: 33.734443, -117.019996 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.7344&lon=-117.0200&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 2 minor - Status: Completed, report April 23, 2014 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 88386 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR13LA432 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/88386/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=88386 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR13LA432 ## Probable cause The airplane’s hard landing due to the pilot’s failure to maintain sufficient airspeed while on approach after shutting down the engine because of the smoke in the cockpit from a burnt wire that originated from the alternator field terminal and extended to the cockpit. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Grumman American Avn. AA-1C, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=3960100), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: airspeed](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Grumman American Avn. AA-1C, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010/cases.md?model=3960100), [All aircraft, 1,681 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010/cases.md) - [Electrical power system: electrical pwr sys wiring](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022497): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Failure (probable cause); cases with it: [Grumman American Avn. AA-1C, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022497/cases.md?model=3960100), [All aircraft, 44 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022497/cases.md) - [Physical workspace: air quality/dust/smoke](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03041025): Environmental issues › Task environment · Contributed to outcome (probable cause); cases with it: [Grumman American Avn. AA-1C, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03041025/cases.md?model=3960100), [All aircraft, 9 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03041025/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Approach-VFR pattern downwind: Fire/smoke (non-impact)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/150); cases with it: [Grumman American Avn. AA-1C, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/150/sequence.md?model=3960100), [All aircraft, 504 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/150/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092) (defining event); cases with it: [Grumman American Avn. AA-1C, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md?model=3960100), [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that, while on the downwind leg of the airport traffic pattern, smoke entered the cockpit and that his passenger thought the engine was on fire. He immediately shut down the engine and opened the canopy a little, which cleared most of the smoke. He then transmitted on the common traffic advisory frequency that he had smoke in the cockpit and was going to make an emergency landing. As the pilot turned the airplane toward the runway, he observed a helicopter on it, and he transmitted his intention to land a second time. The pilot slowed the airplane and then saw the helicopter depart. As the helicopter lifted off, the pilot "tried to make the runway." The pilot reported that, during the approach to landing, the airplane was "too low and too slow," and, subsequently, the airplane landed hard. Postaccident examination of the airplane revealed a burnt wire that originated from the field terminal of the voltage regulator and extended into the cabin through the engine firewall. It is likely that the burnt wire created the smoke that entered the cockpit. The reason for the burnt wire could not be determined. ## Factual narrative On September 9, 2013, about 1115 Pacific daylight time, a Grumman American Avn. Corp. AA-1C, N9923U, was substantially damaged during landing at the Hemet-Ryan Airport (HMT), near Hemet, California. The airplane was registered to First Flight Corp., San Diego, California, and operated by the pilot under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. The private pilot and his passenger sustained minor injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed for the personal flight. The cross-country flight originated from Gillespie Field, San Diego, about 1030, with an intended destination of HMT. The pilot reported that while on downwind for runway 23, smoke entered the cabin, and that his passenger thought the engine was on fire. The pilot stated that he immediately shut down the engine and declared an emergency by stating his intentions and the nature of the emergency on the common traffic advisory frequency (CTAF). As the pilot was turning towards the runway, he observed a helicopter on the active runway and transmitted "helicopter on the runway, I have to land now." The pilot stated that he stopped the turn and slowed the airplane. As the helicopter was lifting off of the runway, the pilot "tried to make the runway." Subsequently, the airplane landed hard on runway 23. The pilot added that during the approach to landing, he was "too low and too slow." Examination of the airplane by a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector revealed that the left and right wings were structurally damaged. A burnt wire originating from the field terminal of the voltage regulator was observed. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N9923U](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N9923U-2018-06-04), registration cancelled 2018-06-04, S/N AA1C0157, built 1978 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: GRUMMAN AMERICAN AVN. CORP. AA 1C (C) - 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: AA1C0157 - Year built: 1978 - Airframe hours: 3498 - Engines: Lycoming O-235 115 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: William Ralph Eddings - Registered owner: First Flight Corp - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, August 3, 2013 - Departed: KSEE, San Diego, CA - Destination: HMT, Hemet, CA - Airport: HMT, Hemet-Ryan, runway 23, 4,314 × 100 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 71; injuries: minor; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; last flight review March 3, 2012; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 727 total, 44 in this make and model, 651 as pilot in command, 14 in the last 90 days, 5 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 300° at 7 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 20,000 ft broken - Temperature: 86 °F, dew point 48 °F - Altimeter: 29.81 inHg - Observed at: KRIV, 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 20130909022399A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20130909022399A), Sep 9, 2013: Grumman American Avn. Corp. AA-1C, Hemet, CA, Substantial damage. Upon entering downwind at Hemet airport, pilot experienced smoke in the cockpit. Pilot declared emergency, smoke in the cockpit, entered the base leg, and… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on January 17, 2014, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=88386. 745 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 602 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40405261&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - FAA Inspector Findings (item 2, .PDF, 88 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40405262&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=FAA%20Inspector%20Findings-Redacted.PDF - Record of Conversation - Pilot (item 3, .PDF, 55 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40405263&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation%20-%20Pilot-Master.PDF 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.