# NTSB ATL99LA017: Grumman-Schweizer G164B, N6656Q, Cuthbert, GA, November 11, 1998 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: November 11, 1998, 17:00 local (22:00 UTC) - Place: Cuthbert, GA - Location: 31.7707° N, 84.7936° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Cuthbert, GA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=31.7707&lon=-84.7936&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report February 16, 2001 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 45338 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL99LA017 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/45338/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL99LA017 ## Probable cause The fatigue failure of the accessory gear shaft which resulted in fuel starvation and the loss of engine power. A factors was the fuel system filter restriction. ## 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, maneuvering - aerial application - fuel system,filter - flow restricted (contributing factor) - reduction gear assy,accessory drive shaft - fatigue (cause) - fuel system,pump - failure,total (cause) - fluid,fuel - starvation (cause) - Forced landing, emergency descent/landing - Nose over, emergency descent/landing - terrain condition - none suitable - object - other ## Analysis According to the pilot, the airplane's engine lost power while positioning to conduct agricultural operations. The Pilot made an off airport emergency landing in a field. The airplane collided with tree stumps and nosed over. During engine examination, there was a fatigue fracture found in the fuel control gearshaft. It was discovered that both fuselage and engine fuel filters were clogged. There was no Supplemental Type Certificate (STC) for the installation of the engine into this airplane. ## Factual narrative On November 11, 1998 about 1700 eastern standard time, a Grumman-Schweizer G164B, N6656Q collided with tree stumps and the ground during a forced landing near Cuthbert, Georgia. The aerial application flight was operated by the pilot under Title 14 CFR Part 137 and visual flight rules. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident and no flight plan was filed for this flight. The commercial pilot received minor injuries, and the airplane was destroyed. The flight originated in Cuthbert, Georgia, at 1655. According to the pilot, he was flying 500 feet above the ground and was repositioning the airplane to conduct a spraying operation when the engine lost power. The pilot selected a forced landing area and executed a forced landing. During the emergency land, the airplane collided with tree stumps and nosed over. During the engine examination there was a fatigue fracture noticed within the fuel control gear shaft. A crack was detected in the web portion of the gear shaft, and heavy wear was noted on the loaded side of the outer dimension (OD) gear teeth and on the shoulder on the OD surface of the shaft brackets. During the fracture examination, it was noted that the "peeling" type fatigue fracture, and the angling of the final separation through the shaft were typical of torsional loading. The failed gear shaft provided direct drive to the engine fuel pump. During the wreckage examination by FAA Inspectors, it was discovered that the fuel control and the fuselage fuel filters were clogged. An undetermined amount of Jet fuel was discovered at the accident site. Fuel was also found throughout the airframe fuel system. A review of the airframe maintenance logs disclosed that this airplane was retrofitted with Garrett turboprops engine without a Supplemental Type Certificate (STC). There was no STC for the installation of this engine into this airplane. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N6656Q](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N6656Q-2017-05-15), registration cancelled 2017-05-15, S/N 182B (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Grumman-Schweizer G164B - Registry model: [Grumman Acft ENG Cor-Schweizer G-164B](https://openairdocs.org/model/grumman-acft-eng-cor-schweizer-g-164b) (registry code 3952802) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 182B - Airframe hours: 8191 - Engines: Garrett TPE331-6-252M 750 horsepower turbo prop - Damage: Destroyed - Flight: Aerial application, Part 137 - Operator: Thrash Viation Inc. - Registered owner: Ag Pilots Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, October 15, 1998 - Departed: 25J, GA - Airport: 25J, Cutherbert-Randolph, runway 36, 3,000 × 60 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 33; commercial, private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: center; flight hours: 4,000 total, 200 in this make and model, 300 in the last 90 days, 120 in the last 30 days, 8 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 350° at 5 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 54 °F, dew point 37 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: CSG, 40 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 19981111031989A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19981111031989A), Nov 11, 1998: Cuthbert, GA, Destroyed. Acft engine quit a low altitude during aerial application. ## Other investigations on N6656Q (1) 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 FTW80FRA30](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW80FRA30), May 12, 1980: Grumman G-164B (N6656Q), Lissie, TX, 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. --- 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.