Grumman American Avn AA 1C N9923U

Summary

On 9 September 2013 at about 18:15 local time, a Grumman American Avn AA 1C registered N9923U, operated by William Ralph Eddings, was involved in an accident near Hemet, California, United States. 2 people were on board and 2 had minor injuries. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

9 September 2013 at 18:15

Classification

Accident

Location

Hemet, California, United States

Nearest airport

Hemet-Ryan (HMT)

Coordinates

33.7344, -117.0200

Aircraft

Grumman American Avn AA 1C

Registration

N9923U

Category

Airplane

Year built

1978

Engines

1

Operator

William Ralph Eddings

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

San Diego → Hemet

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

WPR13LA432

2 people had minor injuries.

The airplane’s hard landing due to the pilot’s failure to maintain sufficient airspeed while on approach after shutting down the engine because of the smoke in the cockpit from a burnt wire that originated from the alternator field terminal and extended to the cockpit.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot reported that, while on the downwind leg of the airport traffic pattern, smoke entered the cockpit and that his passenger thought the engine was on fire. He immediately shut down the engine and opened the canopy a little, which cleared most of the smoke. He then transmitted on the common traffic advisory frequency that he had smoke in the cockpit and was going to make an emergency landing. As the pilot turned the airplane toward the runway, he observed a helicopter on it, and he transmitted his intention to land a second time. The pilot slowed the airplane and then saw the helicopter depart. As the helicopter lifted off, the pilot "tried to make the runway." The pilot reported that, during the approach to landing, the airplane was "too low and too slow," and, subsequently, the airplane landed hard. Postaccident examination of the airplane revealed a burnt wire that originated from the field terminal of the voltage regulator and extended into the cabin through the engine firewall. It is likely that the burnt wire created the smoke that entered the cockpit. The reason for the burnt wire could not be determined.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.