Grumman AA5B N55VL
18 September 1993 · Aurora, Illinois, United States · No injuries
Summary
On 18 September 1993 at about 15:30 local time, a Grumman AA5B registered N55VL, operated by Van Loon, John A., was involved in an accident near Aurora, Illinois, 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.
The record
- Date
- at 15:30
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- Aurora, Illinois, United States
- Coordinates
- 42.0595, -87.9896
- Aircraft
- Grumman AA5B
- Registration
- N55VL
- Category
- Airplane
- Engines
- 1
- Operator
- Van Loon, John A.
- Operating rule
- Part 91: General Aviation
- Purpose of flight
- Personal
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Route
- West Chicago → Unknown
- Aircraft damage
- Substantial
- Weather
- VMC
- Light
- Day
- NTSB number
- CHI93LA365
People
Nobody was injured.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
Probable cause
the fatigue failure and separation of a portion of propeller blade during cruise flight. Related factors are the damage to the flat face of the blade, and inadequate maintenance inspection of the propeller.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
THE PILOT DEPARTED FOR A LOCAL PLEASURE FLIGHT, AND WAS ABOUT 5 MILES SOUTH OF THE DEPARTURE AIRPORT WHEN THERE WAS A LOUD POP AND THE AIRPLANE BEGAN TO '...VIBRATE VIOLENTLY.' THE PILOT STATED THE VIBRATION BECAME MANAGEABLE WHEN HE REDUCED ENGINE POWER TO IDLE. HE REPORTED THE ENGINE LOST POWER COMPLETELY AS THE AIRPLANE GLIDED TOWARD THE SELECTED FORCED LANDING SITE. THE AIRPLANE LANDED HARD AND FLIPPED OVER DURING THE LANDING ROLL, COMING TO REST INVERTED. POSTACCIDENT INVESTIGATION REVEALED THE OUTBOARD 13.75 INCHES OF ONE PROPELLER BLADE SEPARATED DURING FLIGHT. THE SEPARATED PORTION WAS RECOVERED, AND BOTH PIECES OF THE FAILED BLADE WERE EXAMINED BY THE NTSB'S MATERIALS LAB. THE LAB'S EXAMINATION REVEALED THE CRACK ARREST POSITIONS EMANATED FROM A CAVITY ON THE FLAT FACE OF THE PROPELLER BLADE. THE PROPELLER WAS CHECKED FOR BALANCE, BLADE TRACK AND ANGLE, AND WAS PAINTED 9 1/2 MONTHS BEFORE THE ACCIDENT. THE CAVITY CONTAINED PAINT SIMILAR TO THE REST OF THE FLAT FACE OF THE BLADE.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Other Grumman AA5B accidents
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 31 May 1993 | Grumman AA5B | Cummings, Georgia, United States | - | Minor injuries | - |
| 7 Jun 1992 | Grumman AA5B | Charlotte, Michigan, United States | Swarthout, John E. | Serious injuries | - |
| 28 Apr 1991 | Grumman AA5B | College Park, Maryland, United States | Navsea Flying Club, Inc. | No injuries | - |
| 25 Aug 1991 | Grumman AA5B | Hampton, New Hampshire, United States | Richard Laflamme | No injuries | - |
| 20 Feb 1995 | Grumman AA5B | Pacifica, California, United States | Alfred Perreira | No injuries | - |
| 15 Aug 1990 | Grumman AA5B | Stow, Massachusetts, United States | Hung YU | No injuries | - |
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 19 Sep 1993 | Piper PA-34-200T | New Lenox, Illinois, United States | Raymond M. Dolan | No injuries | - |
| 8 Aug 1993 | Walter D Courtney COURTNEY TWO | Canton, Illinois, United States | Walter D. Courtney | Fatal | 1 |
| 22 Sep 1993 | Lanceair 235M | Rockford, Illinois, United States | Nappi, Tito C. | No injuries | - |
| 9 Jan 1993 | De Havilland DHC-8-311 | Savoy, Illinois, United States | Air Wisconsin, Inc. | No injuries | - |
| 13 Mar 1993 | Fokker 100 | Chicago, Illinois, United States | Usair | No injuries | - |
| 31 Mar 1993 | Aerospatiale ATR-42-300 | Moline, Illinois, United States | Trans States Airlines | No injuries | - |