# NTSB ATL93LA116: Grumman G164A, N48584, Brundidge, AL, June 25, 1993 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: June 25, 1993, 08:45 local (13:45 UTC) - Place: Brundidge, AL - Coordinates: 31.710685, -85.809783 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=31.7107&lon=-85.8098&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report June 30, 1994 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 3230 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL93LA116 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/3230/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL93LA116 ## Probable cause THE BROKEN CARBURETOR ACCELERATOR PUMP PISTON RIVET WHICH LODGED UNDER THE NEEDLE VALVE, ALLOWED THE FLOAT CHAMBER TO FLOOD WITH FUEL, AND THE ENGINE TO QUIT. THE LACK OF SUITABLE TERRAIN FOR A FORCED LANDING WAS A FACTOR. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(total) - mech failure/malf, cruise - fuel system,carburetor float - fouled (cause) - Forced landing, descent - emergency - In flight collision with object, descent - emergency - object - tree(s) - terrain condition - none suitable (contributing factor) ## Analysis AFTER COMPLETING AN AERIAL APPLICATION SPRAY RUN, THE FLIGHT WAS EN ROUTE TO THE BASE FIELD. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT A PUFF OF BLACK SMOKE WAS EMITTED FROM THE EXHAUST, AND THE ENGINE QUIT. DENSE WOODS WERE BENEATH THE AIRPLANE, SO IT WAS FORCE LANDED IN THE TREES. THE EXAMINATION OF THE ENGINE REVEALED THAT TWO RIVETS WHICH FASTENED THE CARBURETOR ACCELERETOR PUMP PISTON WERE BROKEN. THEY WERE FOUND IN THE CARBURETOR FLOAT CHAMBER WITH ONE OF THE RIVETS NEAR THE NEEDLE AND SEAT. THE ENGINE PROBABLY QUIT WHEN A RIVET LODGED UNDER THE NEEDLE AND ALLOWED THE CARBURETOR TO FLOOD WITH FUEL. ## Factual narrative On June 25, 1993, at about 0845 central daylight time, a Grumman G164A, N48584, collided with trees and the ground, following a loss of engine power, during cruise flight near Brundidge, Alabama. The airplane was operated by Brundidge Spray Service under 14 CFR Part 91 and visual flight rules. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the accident site. A flight plan was not filed for the aerial application flight. There were no injuries to the commercial pilot, while the airplane was substantially damaged. Origination of the flight was Brundidge, Alabama, about 40 minutes prior to the accident. The pilot reported he had completed spraying a cotton field and was returning to the airfield. He had climbed to 150 to 200 feet when the engine emitted a puff of black smoke from the exhaust, and quit. The airplane descended into and collided with the heavily wooded terrain. He also reported that the engine had been operated about 13 hours since a zero time major overhaul. The engine examination revealed that two of six rivets that fasten the carburetor accelerator pump piston had failed. Both of the rivets were found in the float chamber. One of the rivets was found near the needle and seat. A Malfunction or Defect Report submitted by an airworthiness inspector stated that the loose rivet may have caused the [carburetor] needle to stay open. Engine records revealed that the engine was overhauled on May 11, 1993. According to the operator's report of the accident, the engine had 13 hours since the overhaul. The engine records also revealed that the engine was operated on a test stand, following the overhaul, with a slave carburetor. An Accessory Inspection Record attached to the overhaul records indicated that magnetos were inspected. A carburetor was not listed. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N48584](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N48584-1997-10-14), registration cancelled 1997-10-14, S/N 1664 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: GRUMMAN G164A - 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: 1664 - Airframe hours: 7154 - Engines: P&W R-1340-AN-1 600 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Aerial application, Part 137 - Registered owner: Matney, Frederick H. - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special) - Last inspection: 100 hour, June 22, 1993, 10 hours before ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 41; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: center; flight hours: 8,629 total, 7,500 in this make and model, 8,544 as pilot in command, 13 in the last 90 days, 13 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 120° at 5 knots - Visibility: 7 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 13,000 ft broken - Temperature: 79 °F, dew point 72 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: MGM, 42 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 (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 19930625020649A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19930625020649A), Jun 25, 1993: Scwzer G164A, Brundidge, AL, Substantial damage. Engine quit. Forced down in wooded area. Carburetor pump attach rivets failed. Fell into carburetor. Blocked float. 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. --- 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.