# NTSB ATL94LA142: Grumman G-164A, N4242X, Samson, AL, July 18, 1994 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 18, 1994, 08:30 local (13:30 UTC) - Place: Samson, AL - Coordinates: 31.110752, -86.039047 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=31.1108&lon=-86.0390&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report January 25, 1995 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 3420 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL94LA142 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/3420/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL94LA142 ## Probable cause THE FAILURE OF THE AILERON TORQUE TUBE BOLT FROM FATIGUE, WHICH RESULTED IN AN INFLIGHT LOSS OF AIRCRAFT CONTROL AND COLLISION WITH TERRAIN. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - in flight, maneuvering - aerial application - flt control syst,aileron control attach points - fatigue (cause) - flt control syst,aileron control attach points - failure,total (cause) - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled ## Analysis THE AG PILOT WAS SPRAYING COTTON, AND IN A 60 DEGREE BANK, WHEN HE NOTICED THAT THE AILERONS WERE INEFFECTIVE. HE REDUCED POWER AND ATTEMPTED TO LEVEL THE WINGS WITH RIGHT RUDDER. THE LEFT WING CONTACTED THE GROUND, FOLLOWED BY THE LEFT MAIN GEAR. THE AIRCRAFT FLIPPED SEVERAL TIMES BEFORE COMING TO REST INVERTED. FLIGHT CONTROL EXAMINATION REVEALED THAT AN AILERON TORQUE TUBE BOLT WAS FRACTURED, DISABLING THE AILERONS. METALLURGICAL EXAMINATION OF THE BOLT REVEALED AREAS OF LOW STRESS, MULTIPLE ORIGIN FATIGUE CRACKING. ## Factual narrative On July 18, 1994, at 0830 central daylight time, a Grumman G-164A, N4242X, collided with the ground following a pull up from a swath run near Samson, Alabama. The local, aerial application flight operated under 14 CFR Part 137 with no flight plan filed. Visual weather conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The airplane sustained substantial damage; the pilot was not injured. The flight's departure time from Samson was not determined. The pilot reported that he was spraying cotton, and at a 60 degree bank angle, when he was unable to level the wings. He retarded the throttle, and attempted to level the wings with right rudder. The wings leveled shortly before the left wing struck the ground, followed by the left landing gear. The aircraft flipped two or three times before coming to rest inverted. An examination of the aileron control system revealed that a torque tube bolt was broken, which compromised aileron control continuity. The broken bolt was submitted to the National Transportation Safety Board Materials Laboratory for inspection. The examination revealed the bolt failed about .7 to .8 inches from the underside of the bolt head. There was an area of wear, and a wear lip was found about .61 inches from the underside of the head. Visual examination of the bolt fracture surface revealed portions of the fracture adjacent to the fracture surface were smooth, flat, and slightly discolored, and contained crack arrest positions and ratchet marks, typical of low stress, multiple-origin fatigue cracking. For more details of the bolt examination, refer to the Metallurgist's Factual Report, attached to this report. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N4242X](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4242X-2013-08-14), registration cancelled 2013-08-14, S/N 2018R, built 1974 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: GRUMMAN G-164A - Registry model: [Rockwell International S-2R](https://openairdocs.org/model/rockwell-international-s-2r) (registry code 7630202) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Pratt & Whitney R1340 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-r1340-series) (registry code 52016, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 2018R - Engines: P&W R-1340-AN-1 600 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Aerial application, Part 137 - Operator: Wise, Jerry L., doing business as Ag Flying Service, Inc. - Registered owner: Wise, Jerry L. - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special) ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 37; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: center; flight hours: 8,500 total, 3,500 in this make and model, 230 in the last 90 days, 175 in the last 30 days, 8 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 7 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 79 °F, dew point 72 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: PNS, 69 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 19940718045919A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19940718045919A), Jul 18, 1994: Ayres S2R, Samson, AL, Substantial damage. During climbing turn swath run pullup unable level wings. Hit wing low and flipped. Torque tube bolt had failed. 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.