ROME, NY, USA
N74085
GRUMMAN AA-5A
THE FLIGHT WAS ENROUTE FROM WATERTOWN TO GLENS FALLS, NEW YORK WHEN SNOW SQUALLS OF VARYING INTENSITY AND GUSTY WIND CONDITIONS WERE ENCOUNTERED. THE PILOT STATED THAT FORWARD VISIBILITY WAS MARGINAL. THE ENGINE FAILED SHORTLY AFTER CHANGING HEADING TOWARDS UTICA, NEW YORK. THE PILOT IMMEDIATELY SET UP FOR A FORCED LANDING IN A FIELD, BUT DURING THE APPROACH, THE AIRCRAFT CLIPPED TREE TOPS, DESCENDED TO THE GND, HIT LEFT WING FIRST, AND FLIPPED OVER. POST ACC ENG DISASSEMBLY REVEALED A BROKEN #2 CONNECTING ROD AND EVIDENCE OF LOCALIZED OIL STARVATION. OIL FLOW TO #2 CONNECTING ROD WAS OBSTRUCTED BY METAL PARTICLES FROM SPALLED VALVE TAPPET FACE.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
Aviation Accidents App
In-Depth Access to Aviation Accident Reports
