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Aviation safety reports, made easier to study

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July 27, 1986 · Grumman AA-5A · N9835U

Audubon, IA

Overview

Report Status
Preliminary report
Event Type
Accident
Date
July 27, 1986
Injury Outcomes
No injuries (4 uninjured)
Location
Audubon, IA
Aircraft
Grumman AA-5A
Tail Number
N9835U
Injuries
None
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
MKC86LA158

The pilot stated that the engine was developing full power during the brake release and takeoff roll but that the aircraft would not accelerate to lift-off speed as fast as expected. Upon reaching 70 m.p.h. (61 kts.), and after a takeoff roll of 2,000 feet, the pilot further stated that he rotated and lifted the aircraft off the concrete runway but kept the aircraft in ground effect when it was unable to reach climb speed. The P.I.C. aborted the takeoff past the runway departure end by reducing power and lowering the nose and the aircraft impacted the ground in a grassy clearway inside the airport perimeter. Post-accident calculations reveal that the aircraft weight and balance was at or very close to the maximum takeoff gross weight (MTOGW), and within C.G. limits. Aircraft performance estimates, based on field elevation and nonstandard temperature and pressure at the time of the accident indicated a density altitude of 3,600 feet with headwinds of less than five knots.

Full Narrative

THE PILOT STATED THAT THE ENGINE WAS DEVELOPING FULL POWER DURING THE BRAKE RELEASE AND TAKEOFF ROLL BUT THAT THE AIRCRAFT WOULD NOT ACCELERATE TO LIFT-OFF SPEED AS FAST AS EXPECTED. UPON REACHING 70 M.P.H.(61 KTS.), AND AFTER A TAKEOFF ROLL OF 2,000 FEET, THE PILOT FURTHER STATED THAT HE ROTATED AND LIFTED THE AIRCRAFT OFF THE CONCRETE RUNWAY BUT KEPT THE AIRCRAFT IN GROUND EFFECT WHEN IT WAS UNABLE TO REACH CLIMB SPEED. P.I.C. ABORTED THE TAKEOFF PAST THE RUNWAY DEPARTURE END BY REDUCING POWER AND LOWERING THE NOSE AND THE AIRCRAFT IMPACTED THE GROUND IN A GRASSY CLEARWAY INSIDE THE AIRPORT PERIMETER. POST-ACCIDENT CALCULATIONS REVEAL THAT THE AIRCRAFT WEIGHT AND BALANCE WAS AT OR VERY CLOSE TO THE MAXIMUM TAKEOFF GROSS WEIGHT (MTOGW), AND WITHIN C.G. LIMITS. AIRCRAFT PERFORMANCE ESTIMATES, BASED ON FIELD ELEVATION AND NONSTANDARD TEMPERATURE AND PRESSURE AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT INDICATED A DENSITY ALTITUDE OF 3,600 FEET WITH HEADWINDS OF LESS THAN FIVE KNOTS.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time11:00 CDT
Nearest AirportAudubon Muni (0nm N)
Runway14
Runway Length3000 ft
Runway Width60 ft
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftGrumman AA-5A
Tail NumberN9835U
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageSubstantial
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsLycoming · O-320-E2G · Reciprocating · 150
Seats4

People & Injuries

Injury SummaryNo injuries (4 uninjured)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured4
Total4
Crew 1Age 38 · Second Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind190° @ 6 kt
Visibility8 sm
CeilingNone
Altimeter29.00 inHg
Observation Time16:52
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data