Grumman American Avn AA-5B N23JK

Summary

On 11 July 2024 at about 15:00 local time, a Grumman American Avn AA-5B registered N23JK was involved in an accident near Camdenton, Missouri, United States. 3 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

11 July 2024 at 15:00

Classification

Accident

Location

Camdenton, Missouri, United States

Nearest airport

Camdenton Meml-Lake Rgnl (OZS)

Coordinates

37.9727, -92.6892

Aircraft

Grumman American Avn AA-5B

Registration

N23JK

Category

Airplane

Year built

1975

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

CEN24LA315

Nobody was injured.

The inadequate maintenance of the seat locking mechanism, which resulted in the pilot’s seat sliding back during takeoff and a subsequent loss of control.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

During the takeoff roll the pilot’s seat suddenly slid backward, and she was unable to reach the pedals, which resulted in a loss of control and runway excursion. Examination of the airplane revealed substantial damage to the engine mount, fuselage, and horizontal stabilizer. The pilot’s seat tracks were a newer heat-treated version. There were wear marks on the seat lock pin tip indicative of previous alignment issues. The spring that held the lock pins in place was installed incorrectly and the corresponding push-pull rod was bent. This incorrect spring placement shortened the travel of the spring and reduced the tension on the lock pins. The seat brackets that attach to the spar exhibited worn and elongated bolt holes, which created a misalignment of the seat support. It’s likely that the condition of the seat locking mechanism prevented the seat from locking correctly, which resulted in the seat sliding back during takeoff. A review of the available airframe maintenance records did not reveal any entries regarding inspections or work performed on the seats or the seat tracks. The investigation was unable to determine when the pilot’s seat was last inspected, when the lock pin spring was incorrectly installed, and by whom.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.