SILER CITY, NC, USA
N28990
GRUMMAN AA-5B
WHILE IN CRUISE FLT THE ENGINE QUIT WITH A LOUD CLUNK. A FORCED LANDING WAS ATTEMPTED ON A HIGHWAY. THE ACFT DID NOT MAKE THE ROAD AND IT HIT AN EMBANKMENT. EXAM OF THE ENGINE REVEALED A BROKEN CRANKSHAFT AT THE FILLET BETWEEN THE NUMBER 4 CRANKPIN & THROW. THE NUMBER 4 CONNECTING ROD SHOWED EVIDENCE OF OVERHEATING. CRANKSHAFT END PLAY WAS FOUND TO BE ONE HALF INCH AT THE ACCESSORY END. ENGINE HAD RECEIVED MAJOR OVERHAUL 81 HOURS PRIOR TO THE FAILURE OF THE CRANKSHAFT.
IMPROPER ENGINE OVERHAUL PROCEDURES WHICH RESULTED IN THE CATASTROPHIC FAILURE OF THE ENGINE CRANKSHAFT. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE LACK OF A SUITABLE FORCED LANDING AREA.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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