On May 27, 1987, a Grumman AA5A (registration N26378) operated by Fletcher Aviation was involved in an aviation accident near Malakoff, TX. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The failure of the exhaust valve in the number three cylinder. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive; 1 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.
An aircraft suffered an engine failure near Malakoff, Texas, leading to a forced landing attempt that resulted in a crash into a lake after bouncing off the road.
What happened
The aircraft impacted terrain in the vicinity of Malakoff, Texas. Following an unexpected engine failure, the pilot attempted to execute a forced landing on a road that crossed a dam. The aircraft touched down on the road but bounced into the adjacent lake.
The investigation
A subsequent examination of the engine revealed that the exhaust valve in the number three cylinder had failed.
Findings
The mechanical failure of the exhaust valve was the primary factor leading to the loss of power and the subsequent accident.
Probable cause
The failure of the exhaust valve in the number three cylinder.