ATL96LA107

The agricultural airplane had been loaded with chemicals and water just prior to takeoff. After liftoff, about 75-100 feet above the ground, the engine lost power, then quit. The airplane subsequently hit a tree and the ground, then caught fire. Following the accident, the dump door on the load hopper was found open. A postcrash examination of the engine did not reveal any failure or malfunction of the engine that was not associated with the impact and postcrash ground fire. The fire severely damaged the engine accessory section and the cockpit, interrupting flight control continuity.

On July 14, 1996, about 0910 eastern daylight time, a Grumman G-164-A, N5370, collided with trees and the ground during a forced landing near Scotia, South Carolina. The commercial pilot received serious injuries, and the airplane was destroyed. The aerial application flight was being conducted under the provisions of Title 14 CFR Part 137 by the pilot. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident, and no flight plan was filed. The flight was departing Davis Airport at the time of the accident.

According to a witness, the engine lost power during takeoff from Davis airport. The witness stated that the airplane had just been loaded with 225 gallons of chemicals and water. The witness noted that the airplane lifted off at the normal spot, during the takeoff roll. About 75-100 feet above the ground, the engine lost power, then quit. Subsequently, the airplane hit a tree, slid down the tree about 30 feet to the ground, and caught fire. The pilot was burned and has been unable to provide a report of the accident.

When the airplane was lifted for retrieval, the witness observed that the door on the load hopper had been opened. The inspector who examined the wreckage stated that the cockpit area was burned away, resulting in a loss of flight control continuity. Another inspector examined the engine and reported that the engine accessory section was severely damaged by fire. He also reported that no evidence of an engine malfunction was found, except for the impact and post-crash fire damage.