Gulfstream American AA-5B N28215

Summary

On 14 November 1993 at about 15:30 local time, a Gulfstream American AA-5B registered N28215, operated by James Connelly, was involved in an accident near Sterling, Massachusetts, United States. 4 people were on board and 4 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

14 November 1993 at 15:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Sterling, Massachusetts, United States

Nearest airport

Sterling (3B3)

Coordinates

Not recorded

Aircraft

Gulfstream American AA-5B

Registration

N28215

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

James Connelly

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Stow → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

BFO94LA010

4 people had minor injuries.

SEPARATION OF THE NUMBER ONE EXHAUST VALVE DUE TO FATIGUE CRACKING WHICH RESULTED IN LOSS OF ENGINE POWER. OTHER RELATED FACTORS WERE MISJUDGMENT OF ALTITUDE AND AIRSPEED BY THE PILOT RESULTING IN ON GROUND COLLISION WITH THE TERRAIN AND SUBSEQUENT NOSE OVER.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

THE PILOT REPORTED THAT THE AIRPLANE WAS AT 2000 FEET MSL WHEN A SEVERE VIBRATION DEVELOPED ON THE AIRPLANE. HE STATED THAT THE AIRPLANE WAS DESCENDING AT 200 FEET PER MINUTE WITH THE THROTTLE FULL FORWARD, AND 1700 RPM ON HIS GAGE. HE STATED THAT THE NEAREST AIRPORT WAS ABOUT 6 MILES AWAY, SO HE RADIOED THE AIRPORT OF HIS SITUATION AND ENTERED THE TRAFFIC PATTERN ON THE BASE LEG. HE STATED THAT HE WAS HIGH ON THE APPROACH, BUT HE RECALLED FROM HIS TRAINING THAT IT WAS BETTER TO BE HIGH AND FAST THAN LOW AND SLOW. THE AIRPLANE TOUCHED DOWN ABOUT HALF WAY DOWN THE 3100 FOOT LONG RUNWAY AND EXITED INTO A SIX FOOT CULVERT WHERE IT NOSED OVER. AN EXAMINATION OF THE ENGINE BY THE FAA REVEALED A LEAK WHEN A COMPRESSION TEST WAS COMPLETED. THE CYLINDER WAS REMOVED AND SENT TO THE NTSB LAB IN WASHINGTON, DC. A METALLURGICAL EXAMINATION REVEALED THE EXHAUST VALVE SEPARATED AS A RESULT OF FATIGUE CRACKING THAT INITIATED IN THE RADIUS BETWEEN THE STEM AND THE HEAD OF THE VALVE.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.