# NTSB CEN09LA451: Grumman Acft ENG Cor-Schweizer G-164B, N6683K, Beaman, IA, July 10, 2009 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 10, 2009, 17:00 local (22:00 UTC) - Place: Beaman, IA - Coordinates: 42.220001, -92.822776 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.2200&lon=-92.8228&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Initial climb: Loss of engine power (partial)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report August 12, 2010 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA- Des Moines FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 74333 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN09LA451 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/74333/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=74333 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN09LA451 ## Probable cause The loss of engine power during initial climb for undetermined reasons. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Aircraft](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01050000): Aircraft › Aircraft power plant · Failure (probable cause); cases with it: [Grumman Acft ENG Cor-Schweizer G-164B, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01050000/cases.md?model=3952802), [All aircraft, 151 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01050000/cases.md) - [Not determined](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000): Not determined › Not determined · Unknown/Not determined (probable cause); cases with it: [Grumman Acft ENG Cor-Schweizer G-164B, 11 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md?model=3952802), [All aircraft, 2,247 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Initial climb: Loss of engine power (partial)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342) (defining event); cases with it: [Grumman Acft ENG Cor-Schweizer G-164B, 8 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342/sequence.md?model=3952802), [All aircraft, 1,858 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342/sequence.md) - [Landing: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096); cases with it: [Grumman Acft ENG Cor-Schweizer G-164B, 19 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md?model=3952802), [All aircraft, 2,287 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that he performed a preflight examination and pretakeoff engine run-up of the airplane and no anomalies were detected. He reported that the takeoff was normal until just after liftoff when the airplane's engine lost power but did not quit completely. The pilot advanced the throttle, but the engine did not respond. The airplane struck a fence at the end of the grass runway, settled into the adjacent agricultural field, and nosed over. Examination of the airplane subsequent to the accident failed to reveal a reason for the partial loss of engine power. ## Factual narrative On July 10, 2009, about 1700 central daylight time, a Grumman/Schweizer G-164B, N6683K, piloted by an airline transport pilot, sustained substantial damage during a forced landing near Beaman, Iowa. The airplane was taking off from a farm airstrip when the loss of engine power occurred. It nosed over during the forced landing to a bean field. The 14 CFR Part 137 aerial application flight was operating in visual meteorological conditions and was not on a flight plan. The pilot was not injured. The local flight was originating at the time the accident occurred. During a telephone conversation with the pilot after the accident, he stated that he experienced a loss of engine power during takeoff, but the engine did not quit. The pilot's written report stated that prior to the accident flight he performed a pre-flight inspection of the agricultural airplane which included checking fuel quantity and water accumulation in the fuel. He noted that the airplane had about 40 gallons of fuel on board and no water was detected in the fuel. The pilot also noted that the remainder of the pre-flight inspection revealed nothing abnormal. He stated that at about 1645, he started the airplane and allowed it to warm up. The engine started normally and oil pressure indications were normal. While the airplane was warming up, the ground crew loaded the hopper with 150 gallons of water and chemicals. The pilot stated that he then performed a run-up of the engine noting that the engine was running smooth and that magneto and carburetor heat checks were good. He verified that the mixture control was set to the full rich position and the propeller was set to low pitch. The pilot reported that the start of the takeoff roll was normal with the engine power set to 35 inches of manifold pressure and 2,300 rpm. He stated that the airplane accelerated normally and he lifted off about 70 miles per hour. He then noticed a loss of engine power and the airplane began to settle back to the runway. He applied full power, but the engine did not respond. The airplane struck a fence at the end of the grass runway and then nosed over in the adjacent agricultural field. The pilot noted that the temperature at the time of the accident was 79 degrees Fahrenheit and the winds were light and variable. The airplane was powered by a Pratt & Whitney R1340 engine. It had accumulated about 300 hours since its last overhaul and about 30 hours since the airplane's last annual inspection. Examination of the airplane subsequent to the accident failed to reveal any reason for the loss of engine power. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N6683K](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N6683K), registered now, S/N 417 B, built 1978 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: GRUMMAN ACFT ENG COR-SCHWEIZER G-164B - Registry model: [Grumman Acft ENG Cor-Schweizer G-164B](https://openairdocs.org/model/grumman-acft-eng-cor-schweizer-g-164b) (registry code 3952802) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Pratt & Whitney R1340 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-r1340-series) (registry code 52016, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 417 B - Engines: P&W R1340 SERIES 600 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Aerial application, Part 137 - Operator: Hoppe, William Henry - Registered owner: Hoppe William H - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special) - Departed: Beaman, IA - Destination: Beaman, IA - Flight plan: Unknown - Airport: Private, runway 36, 2,600 × ft, grass/turf ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 42; injuries: none; commercial, airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review June 22, 2009; seat: single; flight hours: 9,600 total, 10 in this make and model, 8,400 as pilot in command, 200 in the last 90 days, 75 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 190° at 5 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 82 °F, dew point 72 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: MIW, 8 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 20090710015079A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20090710015079A), Jul 10, 2009: Scwzer G164B, Beaman, IA, Substantial damage. (-23) The pilot performed the normal before takeoff checks. He said the engine was running smooth, and both mags checked good then lined up on the center of… ## Other investigations on N6683K (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 ATL90DLT01](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL90DLT01), Apr 16, 1990: Grumman G-164B (N6683K), Tiptonville, TN, substantial damage. Probable cause: A LOSS OF ENGINE POWER FOR UNDETERMINED REASONS. A FACTOR IN THE ACCIDENT WAS THE ROUGH TERRAIN. ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 8, 2010, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=74333. 5.0 MB in all. - Miscellaneous (item 1, .PDF, 165 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40330563&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Miscellaneous-Master.PDF - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 2, .PDF, 4.8 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40330580&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF 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.