# Accident 20180829012539A: Grumman G-164A, Opelousas, LA, August 29, 2018

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: August 29, 2018, 11:30 local time
- Place: Opelousas, LA
- Airport: Church Point Flyers Strip
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Cruise/Level Flight
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 30.5408° N, 92.2036° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.5408&lon=-92.2036&mi=10
- Aircraft: N956X, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N956X-2020-09-04) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Grumman G-164A (registry code 3952704, https://openairdocs.org/model/grumman-g-164a) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Pratt & Whitney R-985 series (registry code 52008, https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-r-985-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: GRUMMAN G-164A
- Reported engine: P&W R-985 SERIES
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Private pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 208 total, 1 in this make and model, 25 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CEN18LA357](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN18LA357) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20180829012539A

## Narrative

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

PILOT TOOK OFF FROM CHURCH POINT FLYERS STRIP TO PRACTICE PART 137 FLYING ON HIS FARMLAND. ABOUT AN HOUR LATER, ON HIS RETURN TO CHURCH POINT FLYERS STRIP WHILE IN STRAIGHT AND LEVEL FLIGHT, THE ENGINE STARTING LOSING POWER AND THEN THE ENGINE QUIT. PILOT TRIED RESTARTED THE ENGINE AND STATED THAT THE ENGINE STARTED FOR A FEW SECONDS RAN RUFF AND THEN QUIT. PILOT THEN DECIDED TO PERFORM AN EMERGENCY LANDING INTO A RICE FIELD. SHORTLY AFTER TOUCH DOWN THE AIRCRAFT FLIPPED OVER.

## 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 CEN18LA357](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN18LA357), Aug 29, 2018: Grumman G164 (N956X), Opelousas, LA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The loss of two securing bolts that allowed the left magneto to move around, which disrupted the spark timing and resulted in the engine losing total power.

## Other reports on N956X (1)

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

- [Accident 19750509011489A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19750509011489A), May 9, 1975: Grumav G164A (N956X), Morse, LA, Substantial damage. Hit rice levee.

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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