# NTSB ATL83LA358: Grumman G-164A, N4698, Estill, SC, September 7, 1983

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: September 7, 1983, 18:22 local (22:22 UTC)
- Place: Estill, SC
- Coordinates: 32.74961, -81.240913 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.7496&lon=-81.2409&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 6196
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL83LA358
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/6196/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL83LA358

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, maneuvering - aerial application
  - fluid,fuel - water (cause)
  - aircraft preflight - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
- Forced landing, landing - flare/touchdown
- In flight collision with terrain/water, landing - flare/touchdown

## Analysis

DURING A SWATH RUN, THE ACFT BEGAN TO LOSE POWER, SO THE PLT ABORTED THE MISSION & STARTED BACK TO THE ARPT TO LAND. HOWEVER, BEFORE REACHING THE ARPT, THE ENG QUIT RUNNING & THE PLT LANDED IN A FIELD. DURING THE LANDING, THE ACFT WAS EXTENSIVELY DAMAGED. AN INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT THE OIL RING ON THE # 3 PISTON WAS BROKEN, BUT THE RING WAS STILL IN THE PISTON GROOVE & THERE WAS NO DAMAGE NOTED TO THE PISTON LAND OR CYLINDER WALL. A PARTIAL DISASSEMBLY OF THE CARBURETOR REVEALED THERE WAS APRX 2 OUNCES OF FLUID IN THE BOWL. APPRX 1/4 OF THE FLUID WAS WATER. EXCEPT FOR SOME SOOT ON THE SPARK PLUGS, NO OTHER DISCREPANCIES OF THE ENG WERE FOUND.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N4698](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N4698), registered now, S/N 1081 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: GRUMMAN G-164A
- Registry model: [Grumman Acft ENG Cor-Schweizer G-164A](https://openairdocs.org/model/grumman-acft-eng-cor-schweizer-g-164a) (registry code 3952801) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 1081
- Airframe hours: 2704
- Engines: P&W R-1340-AN1 600 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Aerial application, Part 137
- Registered owner: Mr. Wiliam Harper Jr.
- Last inspection: Annual, February 26, 1983, 200 hours before
- Departed: ESTILL, SC

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 43; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: center; flight hours: 12,000 total, 1,600 in this make and model, 150 in the last 90 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 270° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 88 °F

## FAA reports on this event (1)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 19830907047049A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19830907047049A), Sep 7, 1983: Scwzer G164A, Estill, SC, Destroyed. Engine quit during a swath run. Crash landed in adjacent field. Found a broken piston ring and water in fuel.

## Other investigations on N4698 (2)

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 FTW96LA272](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW96LA272), Jun 22, 1996: Grumman-Schweizer G-164A (N4698), Holyoke, CO, substantial damage. Probable cause: the total failure of the engine main bearing. A factor was the soft terrain condition on which the forced landing was made.
- [NTSB MKC73DCQ31](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MKC73DCQ31), May 16, 1973: Grumman G-164A (N4698), Mccune, KS, substantial damage

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.

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