Grumman AA5B accident near Aurora, Illinois, September 18, 1993
On September 18, 1993 at about 3:30 pm local time, a Grumman AA5B, registered N55VL, was substantially damaged in an accident near Aurora, Illinois. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
the fatigue failure and separation of a portion of propeller blade during cruise flight. Related factors are the damage to the flat face of the blade, and inadequate maintenance inspection of the propeller.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 18, 1993 · about 3:30 pm local time
- Place
- Aurora, Illinois · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Grumman AA5B
- Registration
- N55VL · registry record · serial AA5B-1064
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT DEPARTED FOR A LOCAL PLEASURE FLIGHT, AND WAS ABOUT 5 MILES SOUTH OF THE DEPARTURE AIRPORT WHEN THERE WAS A LOUD POP AND THE AIRPLANE BEGAN TO '...VIBRATE VIOLENTLY.' THE PILOT STATED THE VIBRATION BECAME MANAGEABLE WHEN HE REDUCED ENGINE POWER TO IDLE. HE REPORTED THE ENGINE LOST POWER COMPLETELY AS THE AIRPLANE GLIDED TOWARD THE SELECTED FORCED LANDING SITE. THE AIRPLANE LANDED HARD AND FLIPPED OVER DURING THE LANDING ROLL, COMING TO REST INVERTED. POSTACCIDENT INVESTIGATION REVEALED THE OUTBOARD 13.75 INCHES OF ONE PROPELLER BLADE SEPARATED DURING FLIGHT. THE SEPARATED PORTION WAS RECOVERED, AND BOTH PIECES OF THE FAILED BLADE WERE EXAMINED BY THE NTSB'S MATERIALS LAB. THE LAB'S EXAMINATION REVEALED THE CRACK ARREST POSITIONS EMANATED FROM A CAVITY ON THE FLAT FACE OF THE PROPELLER BLADE. THE PROPELLER WAS CHECKED FOR BALANCE, BLADE TRACK AND ANGLE, AND WAS PAINTED 9 1/2 MONTHS BEFORE THE ACCIDENT. THE CAVITY CONTAINED PAINT SIMILAR TO THE REST OF THE FLAT FACE OF THE BLADE.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,294 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, November 28, 1992; 124 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,400 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A4K (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: DPA West Chicago IL at 3:10 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 10,000 ft; not recorded at 10,000 ft
- Temperature: 59°F (15°C), dew point 52°F (11°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.