Grumman American AA-5B N4546J
8 May 1999 · Claremore, Oklahoma, United States · No injuries
Summary
On 8 May 1999 at about 13:30 local time, a Grumman American AA-5B registered N4546J was involved in an accident near Claremore, Oklahoma, 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 13:30
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- Claremore, Oklahoma, United States
- Nearest airport
- Claremore Municipal (107)
- Coordinates
- 36.3094, -95.6097
- Aircraft
- Grumman American AA-5B
- Registration
- N4546J
- Category
- Airplane
- Engines
- 1
- Operator
- Not recorded
- Operating rule
- Part 91: General Aviation
- Purpose of flight
- Personal
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Route
- Ketchum → Oklahoma City
- Aircraft damage
- Substantial
- Weather
- VMC
- Light
- Day
- NTSB number
- FTW99FA132
People
Nobody was injured.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
Probable cause
The fatigue fracture of the propeller bolts resulting from the improper installation of the propeller assembly.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
While in level cruise flight, the propeller separated from the airplane. The pilot made a forced landing at the Claremore Municipal Airport. During the approach, the airplane porpoised, so the pilot elected to touch down in a grassy area between the runway and ramp area. During landing, the nose gear collapsed and the nose wheel separated from the airplane. Examination of the propeller attaching bolts revealed that they failed in fatigue. Examination of the aft spinner bulkhead revealed that crescent shaped arcs had been punched out, elongating the bulkhead's bolt holes. According to FAA service difficulty reports and reports from mechanics, the potential exists for the aft spinner bulkhead to slide off of the crankshaft flange bushings and rest on the propeller bolts during installation. The mechanic will then torque the propeller bolts with the aft spinner bulkhead pinched between the propeller spacer and the bushings. Over time the pinched sections of aft spinner bulkhead fail, leaving the propeller loose.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Other Grumman American AA-5B accidents
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 13 Nov 1999 | Grumman American AA-5B | Fayetteville, West Virginia, United States | - | Minor injuries | - |
| 8 Jun 1999 | Grumman American AA-5B | Demotte, Indiana, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 27 Jul 1998 | Grumman American AA-5B | Cody, Wyoming, United States | Donald W. Smith | No injuries | - |
| 17 Nov 2000 | Grumman American AA-5B | Montauk, New York, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 5 Sep 1998 | Grumman American AA-5B | Chatham, Massachusetts, United States | - | Minor injuries | - |
| 13 Aug 1998 | Grumman American AA-5B | Decatur, Indiana, United States | - | No injuries | - |
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 17 Jan 1999 | Cessna 182B | Honobia, Oklahoma, United States | - | Fatal | 4 |
| 21 Jan 1999 | Waco YMF-5 | Edmond, Oklahoma, United States | Mitchell L. Madison | No injuries | - |
| 26 Jan 1999 | Cessna 172E | Guymon, Oklahoma, United States | Denny O'hara | No injuries | - |
| 16 Aug 1999 | Piper PA30 | Holdenville, Oklahoma, United States | Adventure Aero, LLC. | Fatal | 1 |
| 27 Dec 1999 | Mooney M20K | McAlester, Oklahoma, United States | John P. McDaniel | Fatal | 1 |
| 29 Mar 1999 | Luscombe 8A | Ada, Oklahoma, United States | - | No injuries | - |