ATL93LA134

NTSB accident investigation · Grumman G-164A · Ashford, AL · July 25, 1993

Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal report
Date
July 25, 1993, 11:11 local (16:11 UTC)
Place
Ashford, AL
Injuries
1 uninjured
Damage
Destroyed
Phase of flight
Maneuvering
Aircraft
N8373Grumman G-164A
Weather
Visual (VMC) · Day
Status
Completed · report July 25, 1994
Report
Approved by Office Director
FAA report
19930725025489A
Case key
3245

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 failure of the engine supercharger assembly, which resulted in a loss of engine power. A factor was the trees at the forced landing site.

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 power(total) - mech failure/malfManeuvering - aerial application
Eng assembly,blower/impeller/integral supercharger - failure,totalCause
Forced landingDescent - emergency
On ground/water collision with objectLanding - flare/touchdown
Object - tree(s)Factor

Analysis

The pilot reported that during an aerial application maneuver, the engine lost power and quit. Oil spray was observed on the windshield shortly following the loss of power. He attempted a forced landing, and the aircraft collided with a peach tree, resulting in structural damage to the airframe. The operator reported that the supercharger assembly failed, resulting in the loss of power.

Factual narrative

On July 25, 1993, at about 1111 central daylight time, a Grumman G164A, N8373, was substantially damaged following a reported loss of engine power near Ashford, Alabama. The commercial pilot was not injured. The aircraft was operated under 14 CFR Part 137 by Howell Cropdusters, Inc., of Bainbridge, Georgia. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time, and no flight plan was filed for the local, aerial application flight. The flight originated in Bainbridge at about 1200 eastern daylight time.

The pilot reported that he was performing an aerial application maneuver when the engine quit. He observed oil spray on the windscreen after the engine lost power. While attempting a forced landing, the aircraft collided with a peach tree and was structurally damaged.

The operator reported that the engine quit due to a failure of the supercharger assembly. The operator did not comply with 49 CFR Part 830, requiring the completion of NTSB Form 6120.1/2 (Pilot/Operator Report).

Aircraft

Registration
N8373
Reported as
Grumman G-164A
Category
Airplane
Serial number
871
Engine
P&W R-1340-AN-1, 600 horsepower, reciprocating
Damage
Destroyed
Flight
Aerial application · Part 137
Operator
Howell Cropdusters, Inc.
Registered owner
Howell Cropdusters, Inc.
Airworthiness certificate
Special, Restricted (Special)

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
29
Certificate
Commercial
Airplane ratings
Single-engine land
Instrument ratings
Airplane
Medical
Class 2, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
Seat
Center
Flight hours
410 total

Weather

Conditions
Visual (VMC) · Day
Wind
200° at 9 knots
Visibility
7 statute miles
Lowest ceiling
None
Temperature
86 °F, dew point 73 °F
Altimeter
30.00 inHg
Observed at
DHN, 15 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.