NTSB Factual Report

On July 5, 2003, about 1100 eastern daylight time, a Grumman AA5B, N1966L, was substantially damaged while landing at the Block Island State Airport (BID), Block Island, Rhode Island. The certificated private pilot and three passengers sustained minor injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan had been filed for the flight that departed the Francis S. Gabreski Airport (FOK), Westhampton Beach, New York. The personal flight was conducted under 14 CFR Part 91.

The pilot stated that the flight toward Block Island was uneventful, and he entered the traffic pattern for runway 28, a 2,501-foot-long, 100-foot-wide, asphalt runway. The airplane was at an altitude of 1,200 feet, when he turned onto the base leg, and the engine "burbled" momentarily. When the pilot turned onto the final approach, the engine began "coughing and sputtering." He applied carburetor heat, and switched magnetos; without any improvement in engine performance. The engine did not quit completely and the pilot did not recall what the engine rpm was. The pilot "stretched" the landing to make the runway. The airplane struck the runway hard, bounced, and the engine then gained full power. The airplane veered off the right side of the runway and struck several parked airplanes.

The passenger seated in the right front seat stated that the airplane was close to the runway, less than "100 feet above the ground," when he heard the engine "cough or sputter." He observed the pilot pull the throttle back and the airplane struck the runway "hard." The pilot pushed the throttle in, and the engine seemed to "rev up." The airplane then departed the right side of the runway.

The passenger seated in the right rear seat stated that the flight was uneventful until the landing. The airplane "dipped to the left," and struck the runway "really hard." The airplane then turned to the right and she felt it hit something. She was not able to see out the window. When asked to describe the engine noise, she stated it seemed like the engine became quieter just before landing, "almost simultaneously," with the airplane contacting the runway.

The passenger seated in the left rear seat stated that the flight and approach seemed normal until she heard a "funny noise," that she further described as a "hick-up." She then felt the airplane contact the runway "really hard, like it fell out of the sky." She was not certain how much time had elapsed from the moment she heard the hick-up, until the airplane contacted the runway.

The pilot reported he that departed Gabreski Airport with 38 gallons of fuel onboard, and flew the entire flight utilizing the left fuel tank.

On site examination of the airplane by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector did not reveal any pre-impact malfunctions. The engine was retained for further examination. According to the inspector, the airplane struck three other airplanes, which were parked about 1,200 feet from the approach end of the runway, and 500 feet to the right of it.

A teardown of the engine conducted under the supervision of an FAA inspector did not revealed any pre-impact malfunctions.

The airplane had been operated for about 20 hours since it's most recent annual inspection, which was performed on June 19, 2003.

The pilot reported 584 hours of total flight experience, which included 35 hours in the same make and model as the accident airplane.

Winds reported at BID at 1055, were from 240 degrees at 15 knots. At 1115, the winds were from 250 degrees at 15 knots, with 17 knot gusts.

NTSB Probable Cause

The pilot's failure to maintain directional control while landing, after a loss of engine power as reported by the pilot. Factors in this accident were the pilot's improper flare, which resulted in a hard landing, and the crosswind condition.