# Incident 20190709009509I: Schweizer Aircraft Corp G-164B, Blanchard, MI, July 9, 2019

- Type: FAA incident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: July 9, 2019, 06:30 local time
- Place: Blanchard, MI
- Damage: Minor damage
- Phase of flight: Maneuver
- Operating rules: Agricultural (Part 137)
- Operator: 9HEG
- Location: 43.5198° N, 85.0800° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Blanchard, MI, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.5198&lon=-85.0800&mi=10
- Aircraft: N773D, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N773D) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Schweizer G-164B (registry code 8059055, https://openairdocs.org/model/schweizer-g-164b) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Walter M601E-11 (registry code 64006, https://openairdocs.org/engine/walter-m601e-11) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: SCHWEIZER AIRCRAFT CORP G-164B
- Reported engine: WALTER M601E-11
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot, private pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 2,352 total, 1,088 in this make and model, 190 in the last 90 days
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20190709009509I

## Narrative

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

ON JULY 9, 2019 AT APPROXIMATELY 6:30 EASTERN DAYLIGHT TIME, A SCHWEIZER G-164B AIRCRAFT, N773D, REGISTERED TO A COMMERCIAL AGRICULTURAL AIRCRAFT OPERATOR CERTIFICATED UNDER TITLE 14 CODE OF FEDERAL REGULATIONS ( 14 CFR) PART 137 AND OPERATED BY A COMMERCIAL PILOT, RECEIVED MINOR DAMAGE WHEN IT STRUCK A WIRE WHILE ENGAGED IN AGRICULTURAL SPRAYING NEAR BLANCHARD, MICHIGAN. VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS AND CALM WINDS PREVAILED AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT. THE PILOT REPORTED HAZE IN THE AREA OF THE WIRE STRIKE. THE COMMERCIAL FLIGHT WAS BEING CONDUCTED UNDER THE PROVISIONS OF 14 CFR 137 WITHOUT A FLIGHT PLAN.  THE PILOT WAS NOT INJURED. THE LOCAL FLIGHT ORIGINATED FROM LAKEVIEW GRIFFITH (13C) IN LAKEVIEW, MICHIGAN.

ACCORDING TO THE PILOT HE WAS SPRAYING AGRICULTURAL PRODUCT AT A FIELD HE HAD SPRAYED IN THE PAST. UNBEKNOWNST TO HIM, THERE WAS A HIDDEN POWER POLE IN THE TREE LINE IN THE NORTH WEST CORNER OF THE FIELD. BETWEEN THE TREES PARTIALLY OBSCURING THE POLE AND THE EARLY MORNING LIGHT IN DIFFUSED BY HAZE, THE PILOT DID NOT SEE THE WIRE UNTIL THE LAST MOMENT. HE PITCHED THE AIRCRAFT UP, CATCHING THE TOP POWER LINE WITH HIS LANDING GEAR, BREAKING THE WIRE. THE SEVERED WIRE STRUCK THE RIGHT UNDER SIDE OF THE ENGINE COWLING, LEAVING A DENT. THE WIRE ALSO DAMAGED THE LEFT LOWER AILERON CAUSING A SMALL RIP IN THE TRAILING EDGE. THE PILOT RETURNED TO HIS HOME AIRPORT WITHOUT FURTHER INCIDENT AND LANDED SAFELY.

WEATHER AT ALMA, MICHIGAN, KAMN AIRPORT, AT 1019Z WAS: WIND CALM, VISIBILITY 10 STATUTE MILES, CLEAR, TEMP 12, DEW POINT 11, AND ALTIMETER 3011.

## Other reports on N773D (1)

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

- [Accident 20080823846379A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20080823846379A), Aug 23, 2008: Scwzer G164B (N773D), Nielsville, MN, Substantial damage. (-23) Finished spraying field and was landing on a grass runway. Touched down on left main. Aircraft went off into the field, skidded to a stop.

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.

---
OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.