# Accident 20120527009959A: Grumman Acft Eng Cor-Schweizer G-164A, Wilton, CA, May 27, 2012

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: May 27, 2012, 08:30 local time
- Place: Wilton, CA
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Maneuver
- Operating rules: Agricultural (Part 137)
- Operator: 2W5G
- Location: 38.3378° N, 121.2356° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.3378&lon=-121.2356&mi=10
- Aircraft: N8380, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8380-2018-03-08) (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)
- Registry engine: Pratt & Whitney R1340 series (registry code 52016, https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-r1340-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: GRUMMAN ACFT ENG COR-SCHWEIZER G-164A
- Reported engine: P&W R1340 SERIES
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB WPR12LA233](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR12LA233) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20120527009959A

## Narrative

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

THE PILOT WAS CLOSING THE GATE OF THE HOPPER AT THE END OF AN SULPHUR DUST APPLICATION PASS WHEN HE FELT A "SNAP" AND FELT THE GATE HANDLE GO SLACK. HE PULLED BACK TO GAIN ALTITUDE AND LOOKED IN THE MIRRORS TO SEE SULFUR STILL COMING FROM THE AIRCRAFT. HE BANKED HARD LEFT TO KEEP THE MATERIAL IN THE FIELD AND AS HE WAS ROLLING LEVEL HE HEARD AND FELT THE SULFUR IGNITE. AS THE COCKPIT FILLED WITH SMOKE HE ALSO SAW FLAMES IN THE HOPPER AND OUTSIDE THE SIDE WINDOWS. HE OPENED THE LEFT SIDE WINDOW TO TRY TO CLEAR SMOKE AND HEADED TOWARD AN EMERGENCY LANDING SITE. THE AIRCRAFT TOUCHED DOWN ON A DRIVEWAY AND AS IT ROLLED OUT, THE AIRPLANE PULLED RIGHT AND EXITED THE DRIVEWAY ONTO THE ADJOINING GRASS AREA. THE LANDING GEAR DUG IN AND THE AIRCRAFT FLIPPED OVER ON ITS BACK. THE PILOT UNLATCHED THE LEFT SIDE WINDOW (AGAIN), OPENED IT AND UNLATCHED HIS SEAT HARNESS AND BEGAN EGRESS. THE AIRCRAFT WAS ON FIRE SO THE PILOT WALKED UPWIND AND WAITED FOR FIRE PERSONNEL TO ARRIVE.

## 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 WPR12LA233](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR12LA233), May 27, 2012: Grumman Acft ENG Cor-Schweizer G-164A (N8380), Wilton, CA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The failure of the hopper gate mechanism and subsequent sulfur fire during a low-level maneuver.

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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