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20210730011559A

Accident · Substantial damage
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FAA accident report · Schweizer G-164B · Tracy, CA · July 30, 2021

FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal

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Date
July 30, 2021 · 15:00 local
Place
Tracy, CA
Phase of flight
Maneuver
Operating rules
Agricultural (Part 137)
Operator
MBHG
Damage
Substantial damage
Aircraft
N3629F
NTSB investigation
NTSBWPR21LA299
Reported as
Schweizer G-164B
Reported engine
Honeywell TPE331-2
People aboard
1
Fatal injuries
0
Other injuries
0
Pilot’s certificate
Commercial pilot
Pilot’s flight hours
6,250 total
N3629FRegistration cancelled Jun 10, 2023 · Schweizer G-164BS/N 745B · Built 1984Airframe modelSchweizer G-164BEngine modelPratt & Whitney R1340 seriesReciprocating

From the FAA’s Accident/Incident Data System (AIDS), through its Aviation Safety Information Portal, as reported. The NTSB investigates accidents separately, and its record of an accident is the fuller one. The aircraft is matched to the registry 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.

What happened

The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.

Pilot was performing agriculture operations when he reported the engine suddenly vibrated and then stopped. The pilot was approaching two sets of high power tension lines, and had to fly underneath the power lines. After clearing the power lines, he was able to land the aircraft in another field. During landing, the aircrafts landing gear was caught in the ground and the aircraft cartwheeled on top of itself, positioning the aircraft tail up.

There is substantial damage to the wing spars, propeller, and landing gear.

The pilot was able to remove himself from the aircraft and did not acquire any injuries. The pilot promptly returned back to the aircraft and turned off the master power switch.

Pilot statement has been added to the office working file.

August 9th, and August 10th, 2021, ASI inspector privacy data omitted assisted privacy data omitted product integrity/ air safety investigator with an aircraft and engine examination. During the investigation it appeared that the turbine engine fuel solenoid had been electrically closed. It was decided to remove the electrical system relative to the fuel solenoid switch. Electrical system was removed, and sent to NTSB for further testing.

Also, engine was removed for further inspection by privacy data omitted investigator, and sent back to privacy data omitted for more investigation.

All pertinent information has been shared with NTSB iic.

I am considering this report closed. Report may be re-opened and amended if more information becomes available.

As the FAA filed it

PILOT WAS PERFORMING AGRICULTURE OPERATIONS WHEN HE REPORTED THE ENGINE SUDDENLY VIBRATED AND THEN STOPPED. THE PILOT WAS APPROACHING TWO SETS OF HIGH POWER TENSION LINES, AND HAD TO FLY UNDERNEATH THE POWER LINES. AFTER CLEARING THE POWER LINES, HE WAS ABLE TO LAND THE AIRCRAFT IN ANOTHER FIELD. DURING LANDING, THE AIRCRAFTS LANDING GEAR WAS CAUGHT IN THE GROUND AND THE AIRCRAFT CARTWHEELED ON TOP OF ITSELF, POSITIONING THE AIRCRAFT TAIL UP.

THERE IS SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE TO THE WING SPARS, PROPELLER, AND LANDING GEAR.

THE PILOT WAS ABLE TO REMOVE HIMSELF FROM THE AIRCRAFT AND DID NOT ACQUIRE ANY INJURIES. THE PILOT PROMPTLY RETURNED BACK TO THE AIRCRAFT AND TURNED OFF THE MASTER POWER SWITCH.

PILOT STATEMENT HAS BEEN ADDED TO THE OFFICE WORKING FILE.

AUGUST 9TH, AND AUGUST 10TH, 2021, ASI INSPECTOR ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ ASSISTED ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ PRODUCT INTEGRITY/ AIR SAFETY INVESTIGATOR WITH AN AIRCRAFT AND ENGINE EXAMINATION. DURING THE INVESTIGATION IT APPEARED THAT THE TURBINE ENGINE FUEL SOLENOID HAD BEEN ELECTRICALLY CLOSED. IT WAS DECIDED TO REMOVE THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM RELATIVE TO THE FUEL SOLENOID SWITCH. ELECTRICAL SYSTEM WAS REMOVED, AND SENT TO NTSB FOR FURTHER TESTING.

ALSO, ENGINE WAS REMOVED FOR FURTHER INSPECTION BY ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ INVESTIGATOR, AND SENT BACK TO ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ FOR MORE INVESTIGATION.

ALL PERTINENT INFORMATION HAS BEEN SHARED WITH NTSB IIC.

I AM CONSIDERING THIS REPORT CLOSED. REPORT MAY BE RE-OPENED AND AMENDED IF MORE INFORMATION BECOMES AVAILABLE.

NTSB investigation

The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.

NTSB WPR21LA299Accident · No injuriesClass 3 · LimitedFinal reportTracy, CAA loss of thrust during a low-level agricultural application flight, which resulted in a descent and impact with terrain. The reason for the loss of thrust could not be determined based on available information.Jul 30, 2021 · Substantial damage

Other reports on N3629F · 1

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

Accident 20000420008459AFcd/Prec Ldg From Cruise · Lodi, CA(-23) Aircraft experienced engine failure during flight, aircraft had full load of fuel and was 15 minutes into flight when engine sputtered and quit. Engine propeller turned freely and no engine damage to cylinders was present. The "p" lead and mag switch…Apr 20, 2000 · Substantial damage