ATL07LA001

NTSB accident investigation · Grumman G-164 · Somerville, TN · October 4, 2006

Accident · Minor injuriesLimited investigationFinal report
Date
October 4, 2006, 18:15 local (23:15 UTC)
Place
Somerville, TN
Injuries
1 minor
Damage
Destroyed
Phase of flight
Maneuvering
Aircraft
N493YGrumman G-164
Weather
Visual (VMC) · Day
Status
Completed · report March 31, 2008
Report
Approved by Office Director
Parties
Memphis FSDO-25
FAA report
20061004020089A
Case key
64661

From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.

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Probable cause

The total loss of engine power for undetermined reasons.

Sequence of events

NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.

Loss of engine powerManeuvering - aerial application
Reason for occurrence undeterminedCause
Forced landingEmergency descent/landing
In flight collision with objectEmergency descent/landing
Object - tree(s)

Analysis

The pilot reported that he was conducting an aerial application flight. He stated that about half way through the third turn-around maneuver a gradual loss of power occurred. He added full throttle but did not notice the difference in the engine sound or the power output. He made a forced landing into a small field of trees and the airplane collided with the ground. The pilot exited the airplane, and an immediate post-crash fire consumed the airplane. Examination of the airplane by an FAA inspector revealed that all components for flight were located at the crash site. An examination of the engine revealed that all of its components were heavily fire damaged, and an engine examination could not be facilitated due to the fire damage. Due to the engine fire damage the cause of the loss of power could not be determined.

Factual narrative

On October 4, 2006, at 1815 central daylight time, a Grumman G-164, N493Y, registered to and operated by Fayette Flying Service LLC, as a 14 Code of Federal Regulation Part 137 aerial application flight, loss full engine power while maneuvering in the vicinity of Somerville, Tennessee. The airplane collided with a tree while making a force landing, and was substantially damaged by post-crash fire. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. The private pilot received minor injuries. The flight originated from the Fayette County Airport, Somerville, Tennessee, at 1750.

The pilot reported that he was conducting an aerial application flight. He stated that about half way through the third turn-around maneuver a gradual loss of power occurred. He added full throttle but did not notice the difference in the engine sound or the power output. He made a forced landing into a small field of trees and the airplane collided with the ground.

Examination of the airplane by an FAA inspector revealed that all components for flight were located at the crash site. An examination of the engine revealed that all of its components were heavily fire damaged, and an engine examination could not be facilitated due to the fire damage. A review of the engine logbook pages revealed that the engine was overhauled on July 27, 2006 at an engine total time of 524.7 hours. After the engine was reinstalled it was run for 1-hour. The owner of the airplane did not submit the airplane logbooks or records for review to the NTSB.

Aircraft

Registration
N493Y
Reported as
Grumman G-164
Category
Airplane
Serial number
137
Airframe hours
10,081
Engine
Pratt & Whitney R-985-14B, 450 horsepower, reciprocating
Damage
Destroyed
Fire
On-Ground
Flight
Aerial application · Part 137
Registered owner
Fayette Flying Service LLC
Airworthiness certificate
Special, Restricted (Special)
Last inspection
Annual · February 1, 2006 · 75 hours before
Departed
FYE · Somerville, TN
Destination
Somerville, TN
Airport
FYE · Fayette County

Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

Role
Pilot
Age
43
Injuries
Minor
Certificate
Private
Airplane ratings
Single-engine land
Medical
Class 2, With waivers/limitations
Last flight review
August 1, 2006
Seat
Single
Flight hours
1,000 total · 92 in this make and model · 970 as pilot in command · 95 in the last 90 days · 50 in the last 30 days · 1 in the last 24 hours

Weather

Conditions
Visual (VMC) · Day
Wind
0° at 6 knots
Visibility
10 statute miles
Lowest ceiling
None
Temperature
88 °F, dew point 61 °F
Altimeter
30.09 inHg
Observed at
KMEM, 30 nm away

FAA reports on this event · 1

The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.

Other investigations on N493Y · 1

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