CEN10CA091
2010-01-05 · Santa Fe, New Mexico, United States · Minor · 1 aircraft · Status: Completed
Airport SAF
Current FAA registration · N28446
- Make / Model
- GRUMMAN AMERICAN AA-5B
- Year of manufacture
- 1977 · 33 years old at event
- Engine
- LYCOMING O&VO-360 SER (180 hp)
- Seats / Engines
- 4 seats · 1 engine
- Last airworthiness date
- 19771020
- ADS-B equipped
- Yes — Mode-S A2DFDA
Source: FAA Aircraft Registry (releasable master file).
Aircraft involved
Probable cause & findings
The restricted elevator control movement for undetermined reasons.
Factual narrative
The pilot taxied out for the first flight since completion of the airplane’s annual inspection. Before taking the active runway the pilot performed an engine run-up and checked the airplane’s flight controls for freedom of movement. No anomalies were noted. While on the takeoff roll the pilot attempted to pull the control yoke to facilitate rotation; however, the yoke would not move aft. As the accelerating airplane began to lift off the ground the pilot elected to reduce the throttle to idle, but was unable to lift the airplane’s nose for landing. The airplane impacted the runway, the nose landing gear separated, and the airplane went airborne for the second time. The airplane again impacted the runway before coming to rest in an upright and nose low position. The pilot was able to exit the airplane unassisted. A Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector responded to the accident site and examined the airplane. The inspector reported that he was unable to find the reason for the restricted elevator control movement. The pilot taxied out for the first flight since completion of the airplane’s annual inspection. Before taking the active runway the pilot performed an engine run-up and checked the airplane’s flight controls for freedom of movement. No anomalies were noted. While on the takeoff roll the pilot attempted to pull the control yoke to facilitate rotation; however, the yoke would not move aft. As the accelerating airplane began to lift off the ground the pilot elected to reduce the throttle to idle, but was unable to lift the airplane’s nose for landing. The airplane impacted the runway, the nose landing gear separated, and the airplane went airborne for the second time. The airplane again impacted the runway before coming to rest in an upright and nose-low position. The pilot was able to exit the airplane unassisted. A Federal Aviation Administration inspector responded to the accident site and examined the airplane. The inspector reported that he was unable to find the reason for the restricted elevator control movement. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database Retrieved: 2026-02-12
NTSB Findings
FAA avdata. C = Cause, F = Factor.
- C Aircraft-Aircraft oper/perf/capability-Performance/control parameters-Pitch control-Malfunction - C
- C Not determined-Not determined-(general)-(general)-Unknown/Not determined - C
Verbatim from NTSB's published report. Source file
NTSB_2010_CEN10CA091.txt.
Findings + structured fields enriched from FAA avall.mdb.
Full investigation docket on
data.ntsb.gov ↗.
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