Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Selma, Alabama 36701
Sunday, July 2, 2000 20:52 CDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

While climbing through 3,500 feet after departure, the pilot noticed the engine oil pressure was zero. He initiated a turn back to the departure airport, and in the turn he observed oil on the windshield and the engine shuttered and lost power. He was unable to make it to the departure airport and a forced landing was made in a wooded area. Postcrash examination of the engine by an FAA inspector showed the engine front crankshaft seal had separated from the engine and was lying on the alternator. The No.'s 1 and 2 connecting rods had separated and had damage consistent with oil starvation. Engine logbook records showed the engine had been overhauled 280 flight hours before the accident. About 158 flight hours after overhaul and 122 flight hours before the accident, the engine front crankshaft seal was changed.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The improper installation of the engine front crankshaft seal by maintenance personnel resulting in the seal separating, total loss of engine oil, failure of the engine due to oil starvation, and a collision with trees while making a forced landing on unsuitable terrain.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 7/2/2000
Event Day of the Week Sunday
Time of Event 2052
Event Time Zone Central Daylight Time
Event City SELMA
Event State ALABAMA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 36701
Event Date Year 2000
Event Date Month 7
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 322038N
Event Location Longitude 0865916W
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 Not pertinent
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 2053 Central Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 80
Weather Observation Facility ID MGM
Elevation of weather observation facility 221
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 35
Time Zone of the weather observation CDT
Lighting Conditions Night/Dark
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height --
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 28
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 16
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 180
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 3
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30.03
Density Altitude (feet) 1800
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Minor
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 --
Injury Total All 2
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 14073
NTSB Notification Source FAA ATL Comm. Center
NTSB Notification Date Jul 2 2000 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 2338
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Sep 30 2003 9:55AM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\MONR
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N26937
NTSB Number MIA00LA196
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? No
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire In-flight
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Gulfstream American
Aircraft Model AA5A
Aircraft Series Identifier AA5A
Aircraft Serial Number AA5A0824
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 100 Hour
Date of Last Inspection Jul 1 2000 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 1
Airframe Hours 2269
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name AARON C. LERNER
Aircraft Owner Street Address 750 COUNTY ROAD 269
Aircraft Owner City SELMA
Aircraft Owner State AL
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 36701
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name --
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
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? --
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation --
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 Yes
Departure Airport Code SEM
Departure City SELMA
Departure State AL
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 2045
Departure Time Zone CDT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code MVC
Destination City MONROEVILLE
Destination State AL
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight Climb
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jul 3 2003 10:07AM
User who most recently changed record KENJ
Since inspection or accident Time of Accident
Event Location Runway Number and Location --
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --