Grumman American AA-5A N9884U

Summary

On 18 May 1998 at about 18:20 local time, a Grumman American AA-5A registered N9884U was involved in an accident near Sumter, South Carolina, United States. 2 people were on board and one 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

18 May 1998 at 18:20

Classification

Accident

Location

Sumter, South Carolina, United States

Coordinates

33.9409, -80.3893

Aircraft

Grumman American AA-5A

Registration

N9884U

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Instructional

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

MIA98LA166

1 person had minor injuries.

The partial failure of the oil cooler bypass valve which resulted in the over-temperature and loss of oil pressure.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The flight had been airborne about 30 minutes performing airwork, then while flying at 2,000 feet returning to the airport, the CFI noted that the oil pressure was below the lower end of the green arc. He questioned the owner if that was normal; it was not. The engine then began to run rough and began to lose power. Attempts to correct this were unsuccessful. The CFI attempted to perform a forced landing in a field but while on final approach with the throttle still applied, engine power was momentarily restored. He then overflew the intended field and attempted a landing in a freshly plowed field perpendicular to the plowed rows. After touchdown the nose landing gear collapsed and the engine partially separated from the airframe. Disassembly of the engine revealed no evidence of preimpact failure or malfunction. The oil cooler bypass valve was tested which revealed that it did not meet the minimum extension at the midpoint of the test range. The engine had accumulated about 2,091 hours since manufacture with no record of the bypass valve being replaced.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.