# Accident 19980314003469A: Scwzer G164A, Marianna, FL, March 14, 1998

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: March 14, 1998, 09:10 local time
- Place: Marianna, FL
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Level Off Touchdown
- Operating rules: Agricultural (Part 137)
- Operator: LYZG
- Location: 30.8509° N, 85.2308° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.8509&lon=-85.2308&mi=10
- Aircraft: N8626H, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8626H-2000-01-05) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Grumman Acft ENG Cor-Schweizer G-164A (registry code 3952801, https://openairdocs.org/model/grumman-acft-eng-cor-schweizer-g-164a) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: SCWZER G164A
- Reported engine: PWA R985AN14B
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 6,176 total, 1,535 in this make and model, 30 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ATL98LA055](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL98LA055) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19980314003469A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

APPROXIMATELY TEN MINUTES INTO THE FLIGHT THE PILOT REPORTED THAT THE ENGINE DEVELOPED A ROUGH RUNNING CONDITION. THE PILOT TRIED SUVERAL POWER SETTINGS IN AN EFFORT TO REDUCE THE CONDITION, BUT NO ACTION ON HIS PART RESOLVED THE ROUGH RUNNING CONDITION. SINCE THE PILOT COULD NOT MAINTAIN ALTITUDE, THEN HE SELECTED AN ADJACENT FIELD FOR AN EMERGENCY LANDING. THE PILOT SAID THAT LANDING SURFACE WAS ROUGH AND UNEVEN. EXAMINATION OF THE ENGINE ASSEMBLE DISCLOSED THAT THE RIGHT MAGNETO COVER WAS NOT SECURE AND THAT THE FIVE SCREWS THAT SECURE THE COVER TO THE MAGNETO ASSEMBLE WERE MISSING. THE VISUAL EXAMINATION OF THE INTERNAL COMPONENTS OF THE MAGNETO ASSEMBLY SHOWED EVIDENCE OF WATER STAINS ON THE MAGNETO BLOCK. INTERNAL COMPONENT CONTINUITY WAS ESTABLISHED WHEN THE ENGINE WAS ROTATED COMPLETELY THROUGH. LOW COMPRESSION WAS ALSO NOTED ON ALL CYLINDERS. (-23) SHORTLY AFTER TAKEOFF, PILOT EXPERIENCED ROUGH RUNNING ENGINE FOLLOWED BY BACKFIRING, POPPING SOUND AND SUBSEQUENT POWER LOSS. PILOT WENT TO FULL POWER BUT COULD NOT MAINTAIN ALTITUDE SO HE ACCOMPLISHED A FORCED LANDING TO A COW PASTURE.  HE LANDED FASTER THAN NORMAL AND STARTED BRAKING IMMEDI                                    ATELY AFTER TOUCHDOWN. THE AIRCRAFT HIT SOME RUTS AND BECAME AIRBORNE SO THE PILOT FORCED IT BACK DOWN CAUSING THE PROPELLER TO IMPACT THE GROUND. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE ENGINE HIT THE GROUND AND DUG IN. THE AIRCRAFT PIVOTED ON ITS NOSE, FLIPPED OVER AND CAME TO REST INVERTED.  THE AIRCRAFT SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE BUT THE PILOT WAS NOT INJURED.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB ATL98LA055](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL98LA055), Mar 14, 1998: Grumman-Schweizer G-164A (N8626H), Marianna, FL, substantial damage. Probable cause: The failure of maintenance personnel to secure the magneto cover that resulted in water contamination and the subsequent loss of engine power. A factor was rough and uneven terrain.

## Other reports on N8626H (1)

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.

- [Incident 19900413014289I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19900413014289I), Apr 13, 1990: Scwzer G164A (N8626H), Jay, FL, Minor damage. While spraying banked with low airspeed and stalled. Landed upside down in field.

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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