How many Grumman American AA-5s are registered in the US?

252, in the FAA aircraft registry.

When was the Grumman American AA-5 built?

From about 1972 to 1975. Half of those registered today were built by 1974.

What engine does the Grumman American AA-5 have?

Most have the Lycoming O-320 (96% of those registered).

How many accidents has the Grumman American AA-5 had?

19 in the NTSB's database since 2008, 5 of them fatal. The most common defining event was loss of control in flight. These are counts, not rates: how many hours the fleet flew is not published.

How many Airworthiness Directives does the Grumman American AA-5 have?

10 current ADs name the AA-5 airframe, 0 of them with a repeat action, and 24 more name its engines. Whether each applies to one aircraft depends on its serial number and installed equipment.

Ownership guide

Grumman American AA-5

252 registered in the US, built from about 1972 to 1975, 4 seats, most with the Lycoming O-320. Its Airworthiness Directives, its engines', and what to check before buying one.

The fleet

Registered in the US: 252
Built: 1972 to 1975
Half built by: 1974
Seats: 4
Engine type: Piston
Most common engine: Lycoming O-320

Engines installed

Lycoming O-320243 aircraft (96%) · 24 ADs, 3 with a repeat action

From the FAA aircraft registry, rebuilt daily. Years are those recorded on each registration.

Airworthiness Directives

10 current ADs name the AA-5 airframe, 0 with a repeat action; 1 more were superseded. Its engines carry 24 more. 10 equipment ADs name the model.

No current airframe AD mentions a repeat action.

Every AD for the Grumman American AA-5

Accident record

19 accidents since 2008, 5 fatal (10 people killed in them, a midair counting both aircraft), 1 aircraft destroyed.

What happened

Loss of control in flight2
Collision with terrain or object (non-CFIT)2
Fuel contamination2
Loss of control on ground2
Controlled flight into terrain or object (CFIT)2
Aerodynamic stall/spin1

Phase of flight

Landing4
Initial climb3
Enroute3
Approach3
Takeoff2

The latest

Date	Where	What happened	Injuries	NTSB number
2026-09-05	Fresno, CA	Initial climb: Aerodynamic stall/spin	Fatal	WPR26FA329
2025-07-26	West glacier, MT	Takeoff: Runway excursion	Fatal	WPR25FA223
2024-12-11	Pearland, TX	Enroute: Electrical system malf/failure	None	CEN25LA059B
2024-09-04	Rockmart, GA	Emergency descent: Loss of control in flight	Fatal	ERA24FA365
2023-11-08	Fort worth, TX	Taxi: Collision with terrain or object (non-CFIT)	None	CEN24LA034
2022-06-13	Sarasota, FL	Approach: Fuel contamination	Minor	ERA22LA266

From the NTSB's aviation accident database, refreshed monthly; accidents only, homebuilts left out. Counts, not rates: nobody publishes how many hours each model flies, and a training fleet flies far more than a private one. Look up any case by its number in the NTSB's CAROL.

What it costs to run

Per hour flown

Hours flown a yearhr/yrFuel burngal/hrTypical cruise; your POH and how you fly decide it.Fuel price$/galEngine overhaul$A quote from an engine shop.Hours to overhaulhrThe engine maker's published time between overhauls.Maintenance reserve$/hrEverything else that wears: tires, brakes, avionics, the unexpected.

Per year, flown or not

Insurance$/yrHangar or tiedown$/yrAnnual inspection$/yrLoan payments$/yrEverything else$/yrSubscriptions, database updates, the property tax some states charge.

Fuel: $0/hr
Engine reserve: $0/hr
A year: $0
All in, per hour: $0/hr

Filled in for a Grumman American AA-5 with the Lycoming O-320: the engine maker's published overhaul time. Everything else is yours to fill in: insurance, hangar and overhaul prices vary too much by pilot, airport and shop for a default to mean anything. Nothing you type leaves this page.

Before you buy one

Run its N-number through the AD check: every AD that names its airframe and engine, as a checklist to take to the logbooks.
For each repeat-action AD, find the last compliance in the logbooks and when the next one is due.
Compare the engine's time since overhaul with its maker's published overhaul time, and look for the reason behind any long gap in flying.
10 equipment ADs name the AA-5 (a muffler, a seat belt, a display): find out which of that equipment is installed.
Check the registration, the airworthiness certificate and the date of the last annual inspection.
Work out the sales or use tax your state will charge with the aircraft tax calculator.

Questions

How many Grumman American AA-5s are registered in the US?: 252, in the FAA aircraft registry.
When was the Grumman American AA-5 built?: From about 1972 to 1975. Half of those registered today were built by 1974.
What engine does the Grumman American AA-5 have?: Most have the Lycoming O-320 (96% of those registered).
How many accidents has the Grumman American AA-5 had?: 19 in the NTSB's database since 2008, 5 of them fatal. The most common defining event was loss of control in flight. These are counts, not rates: how many hours the fleet flew is not published.
How many Airworthiness Directives does the Grumman American AA-5 have?: 10 current ADs name the AA-5 airframe, 0 of them with a repeat action, and 24 more name its engines. Whether each applies to one aircraft depends on its serial number and installed equipment.

Figures from the FAA aircraft registry and the FAA's Airworthiness Directives, rebuilt daily. An AD listed for a model is one to read; whether it applies to one aircraft depends on its serial number, equipment and records.