Grumman American AA-5B N39ER

Summary

On 8 October 2006 at about 20:16 local time, a Grumman American AA-5B registered N39ER, operated by Leigh W. Curry, was involved in an accident near Oakdale, California, United States. 2 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

8 October 2006 at 20:16

Classification

Accident

Location

Oakdale, California, United States

Nearest airport

Kistler (08CL)

Coordinates

37.8594, -120.5553

Aircraft

Grumman American AA-5B

Registration

N39ER

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Leigh W. Curry

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Groveland → San Carlos

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

LAX07LA004

Nobody was injured.

A total loss of engine power resulting from lubrication deprivation for undetermined reasons.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

Upon experiencing a total loss of engine power during cruise flight, the pilot made a forced landing during which the airplane overran the runway's departure end and impacted a fence. The pilot reported that during the flight she "heard an abnormal noise coming from the engine - a loud knocking sound. Within just a few seconds, the engine exploded and a rush of oil from the engine compartment flooded the wind screen, obscuring about 90 percent of the forward field of view....The cabin started to fill with smoke from burnt oil," and the propeller stopped rotating. The pilot force landed on a 2,000-foot-long airstrip. Upon exiting the airplane the pilot observed that the top portion of the engine's case was punctured. The pilot had purchased the 1978 model airplane earlier during 2006, and she had possession of its maintenance records. The records indicated that the engine received three (field) overhauls in 1980, 1991, and in 1994. By the accident date, the engine's total time and time since last overhaul was 5,538 and 950 hours, respectively. Examination of the engine found that it had sustained an internal catastrophic mechanical failure, which resulted in a breach of the crankcase at the forward top section. The oil lines were found secure at their respective engine fittings, the crankshaft and respective connecting rods exhibited severe heat distress consistent with lubrication deprivation. The number 1, 2 and 4 connecting rods were displaced from their respective journals. The number 3 connecting rod remained on the journal, which exhibited severe heat distress. The crankshaft and camshaft remained intact. No anomalies were found with the accessory components and gears, or with the lubricating system. The specific event leading to the lubrication deprivation and heat distress was not identified.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.