Grumman AA-5B N28990

Summary

On 13 April 1989 at about 09:15 local time, a Grumman AA-5B registered N28990, operated by WRA, Inc, was involved in an accident near Siler City, North Carolina, United States. One person was on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

13 April 1989 at 09:15

Classification

Accident

Location

Siler City, North Carolina, United States

Coordinates

35.7208, -79.4591

Aircraft

Grumman AA-5B

Registration

N28990

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

WRA, Inc

Operating rule

Part 135: Air Taxi & Commuter

Purpose of flight

Unknown

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Charlotte → Raleigh

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Dawn

NTSB number

ATL89LA126

Nobody was injured.

IMPROPER ENGINE OVERHAUL PROCEDURES WHICH RESULTED IN THE CATASTROPHIC FAILURE OF THE ENGINE CRANKSHAFT. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE LACK OF A SUITABLE FORCED LANDING AREA.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

WHILE IN CRUISE FLT THE ENGINE QUIT WITH A LOUD CLUNK. A FORCED LANDING WAS ATTEMPTED ON A HIGHWAY. THE ACFT DID NOT MAKE THE ROAD AND IT HIT AN EMBANKMENT. EXAM OF THE ENGINE REVEALED A BROKEN CRANKSHAFT AT THE FILLET BETWEEN THE NUMBER 4 CRANKPIN & THROW. THE NUMBER 4 CONNECTING ROD SHOWED EVIDENCE OF OVERHEATING. CRANKSHAFT END PLAY WAS FOUND TO BE ONE HALF INCH AT THE ACCESSORY END. ENGINE HAD RECEIVED MAJOR OVERHAUL 81 HOURS PRIOR TO THE FAILURE OF THE CRANKSHAFT.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.