Grumman AA-1A N6445L
24 September 1992 · Bedford, Massachusetts, United States · Serious injuries
Summary
On 24 September 1992 at about 16:00 local time, a Grumman AA-1A registered N6445L, operated by Martill Inc., was involved in an accident near Bedford, Massachusetts, United States. One person was on board and one was seriously 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 16:00
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- Bedford, Massachusetts, United States
- Nearest airport
- Hanscom Field (BED)
- Coordinates
- Not recorded
- Aircraft
- Grumman AA-1A
- Registration
- N6445L
- Category
- Airplane
- Engines
- 1
- Operator
- Martill Inc.
- Operating rule
- Part 91: General Aviation
- Purpose of flight
- Personal
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Route
- Unknown → Stow
- Aircraft damage
- Substantial
- Weather
- VMC
- Light
- Dawn
- NTSB number
- BFO92LA143
People
1 person was seriously injured.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
Probable cause
INADEQUATE MAINTENANCE INSPECTION WHICH FAILED TO REVEAL A DETERIORATED RUDDER CABLE WHICH SUBSEQUENTLY FAILED AND CAUSED LOSS OF DIRECTIONAL CONTROL.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
THE PILOT WAS ON TAKEOFF AND HE HAD JUST LIFTED OFF WHEN HE LOST DIRECTIONAL CONTROL. THE AIRPLANE ROLLED RIGHT AND THE RIGHT WING STRUCK THE GROUND. ACCORDING TO THE PILOT, HE ABRUPTLY LOST RUDDER AUTHORITY. THE AIRPLANE IMPACTED THE GROUND AND CAME TO REST INVERTED. A 10 KNOT QUARTERING TAILWIND EXISTED DURING THE TAKEOFF. EXAMINATION OF THE AIRPLANE REVEALED THE RUDDER CABLE SEPARATED AT THE FUSELAGE PULLEY. METALLURGICAL EXAMINATION REVEALED EXTENSIVE FATIGUE CRACKING IN THE INDIVIDUAL WIRES. A REVIEW OF MAINTENANCE RECORDS REVEALED AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVE 72-06-02 REQUIRED RECURRENT INSPECTION OF THE RUDDER CABLE EVERY 100 HOURS. A REVIEW OF MAINTENANCE RECORDS SHOWS COMPLIANCE WITH THE AD AT THE LAST ANNUAL INSPECTION. THE AIRPLANE WAS OPERATED ABOUT 65 HOURS SINCE THE INSPECTION.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Other Grumman AA-1A accidents
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12 Feb 1994 | Grumman AA-1A | Bishop, California, United States | Charles H. Thomas | No injuries | - |
| 29 Oct 1989 | Grumman AA-1A | Borrego Springs, California, United States | John L. LEE | Minor injuries | - |
| 4 Sep 1986 | Grumman AA-1A | Chinook, Montana, United States | - | Minor injuries | - |
| 18 Jan 1984 | Grumman AA-1A | Hawley, Minnesota, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 9 Oct 1977 | Grumman AA-1A | Davenport, Iowa, United States | - | No injuries | - |
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20 Aug 1992 | Piper PA-34-200T | Bedford, Massachusetts, United States | Edward Walter | No injuries | - |
| 22 Aug 1992 | Piper PA-32-260 | Newburyport, Massachusetts, United States | Alfred L. Moseley | Minor injuries | - |
| 22 Aug 1992 | Aerostar AX-9 | Hopkinton, Massachusetts, United States | Mario Distefano | No injuries | - |
| 13 Aug 1992 | Beechcraft 76 | Nantucket, Massachusetts, United States | John F. Mannix | Serious injuries | - |
| 19 Oct 1992 | Beechcraft 55 | Leicester, Massachusetts, United States | Robert L. Powell | Fatal | 2 |
| 15 Oct 1992 | Piper PA-38-112 | Newburyport, Massachusetts, United States | Beverly Flight Center, Inc. | No injuries | - |