Gulfstream American AA5B N4516V

Summary

On 14 June 2004 at about 13:45 local time, a Gulfstream American AA5B registered N4516V was involved in an accident near Crystal River, Florida, United States. 4 people were 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

14 June 2004 at 13:45

Classification

Accident

Location

Crystal River, Florida, United States

Nearest airport

Crystal River (CGC)

Coordinates

28.8672, -82.5711

Aircraft

Gulfstream American AA5B

Registration

N4516V

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Satasota-Braden → Athens

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

MIA04LA097

Nobody was injured.

The failure of the number three cylinder exhaust valve which resulted in the partial loss of engine power. The pilot's misjudgment of speed and distance resulted in an overrun of the runway.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot stated that he was en route to Athens, Georgia, and the airplane was in level cruise flight at 8,000 feet, when all of a sudden the engine started running roughly. He stated that he was unable to maintain altitude, so he declared an emergency with FAA Jacksonville Air Route Traffic Control Center, and was given vectors for Crystal River Airport, Crystal River, Florida. He stated that he flew the subsequent approach to a forced landing with too much speed, and was unable to stop the airplane on the runway. As he was nearing the end of the runway, he stated that he thought he had enough power to execute a go-around, but as he was attempting to do so, he was able to avoid the fence, but collided with some trees. Post crash examination of the airplane's engine showed no compression was noted in the No. 3 cylinder. Further examination revealed that the No. 3 cylinder exhaust valve head was missing and that the cylinder head and top of the piston had incurred mechanical damage. The center electrode of No. 3's upper spark plug showed evidence of physical contact, and was found pushed against the side electrodes. Two pieces of metal appearing to be pieces of the valve head were found in the exhaust system. According to information obtained from the pilot, the engine had accumulated a total of 1,547 total flight hours since overhaul, and 56 flight hours since its last annual inspection, which had been conducted in October 2003.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.