Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Scott, Arkansas 72142
Thursday, October 29, 1998 9:00 CDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

Following a total loss of engine power during the en route descent to the destination airport, the aircraft landed short of the runway. During the landing flare, the airplane stalled, bounced, landed on the main landing gear and nosed over. The aircraft had flown 852 hours since the last engine overhaul and 13 hours since the last annual inspection. Examination of the engine revealed a lack of gear train continuity. Disassembly of the engine accessory case revealed that the crankshaft gear lockplate was not installed and the crankshaft gear retaining bolt had backed out of the crankshaft approximately 1 3/4 turns. The crankshaft gear alignment dowel was fractured. Review of maintenance records indicated the engine was last overhauled in January 1987 and return to service by a FAA certified mechanic.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The disengagement of the crankshaft gear due to the maintenance personnel not installing the gear lockplate at the last engine overhaul, resulting in the loosening of the gear retaining bolt, and the subsequent fracture of the gear alignment dowel. A factor was the pilot's inadvertent stalling of the aircraft during the forced landing.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 10/29/1998
Event Day of the Week Thursday
Time of Event 900
Event Time Zone Central Daylight Time
Event City SCOTT
Event State ARKANSAS
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 72142
Event Date Year 1998
Event Date Month 10
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude --
Event Location Longitude --
Event Location Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 953 Central Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 270
Weather Observation Facility ID LIT
Elevation of weather observation facility 260
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 10
Time Zone of the weather observation CST
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 12000
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Scattered
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 7
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 21
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 18
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 200
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 9
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Serious
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor 2
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious 1
Injury Total All 3
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 968
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Oct 29 1998 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1045
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Feb 23 2001 1:56PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N9956U
NTSB Number FTW99LA017
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Grumman American
Aircraft Model AA-5A
Aircraft Series Identifier AA-5A
Aircraft Serial Number AA5A-0356
Certified Max Gross Weight 2200
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 4
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Aug 20 1998 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 13
Airframe Hours 1463
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name CHEETAH AVIATION, INC.
Aircraft Owner Street Address P. O. BOX 8
Aircraft Owner City GREENVILLE
Aircraft Owner State MS
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 38702
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name COLLINS E. BRENT
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address
Operator City
Operator State
Operator Country
Operator Zip code
Operator Code
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation Unknown
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Personal
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code GLH
Departure City GREENVILLE
Departure State MS
Departure Country
Departure Time 800
Departure Time Zone CST
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code LIT
Destination City LITTLE ROCK
Destination State AR
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Feb 23 2001 1:56PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 0
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --