# NTSB CEN09LA574: Grumman Acft ENG Cor-Schweizer G-164A, N6761Q, Kimball, NE, September 8, 2009

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: September 8, 2009, 08:30 local (14:30 UTC)
- Place: Kimball, NE
- Coordinates: 41.229454, -103.649742 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.2295&lon=-103.6497&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Powerplant sys/comp malf/fail](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/340)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report April 19, 2010
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Central Region
- Parties: FAA FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 74689
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN09LA574
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/74689/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=74689
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN09LA574

## Probable cause

A loss of engine power due to improper installation of an oil line fitting resulting in oil depletion.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Engine (turbine/turboprop): oil system](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057261): Aircraft › Aircraft power plant · Incorrect service/maintenance (probable cause); cases with it: [Grumman Acft ENG Cor-Schweizer G-164A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057261/cases.md?model=3952801), [All aircraft, 16 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057261/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Prior to flight: Aircraft maintenance event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/040); cases with it: [Grumman Acft ENG Cor-Schweizer G-164A, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/040/sequence.md?model=3952801), [All aircraft, 484 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/040/sequence.md)
- [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Powerplant sys/comp malf/fail](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/340) (defining event); cases with it: [Grumman Acft ENG Cor-Schweizer G-164A, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/340/sequence.md?model=3952801), [All aircraft, 820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/340/sequence.md)
- [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341); cases with it: [Grumman Acft ENG Cor-Schweizer G-164A, 10 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=3952801), [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md)
- [Emergency descent: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440); cases with it: [Grumman Acft ENG Cor-Schweizer G-164A, 12 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=3952801), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md)
- [Landing: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Grumman Acft ENG Cor-Schweizer G-164A, 20 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=3952801), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The commercial pilot was performing the last pass of an aerial application flight when the engine "backfired" and surged several times. The pilot pulled the emergency fuel shut-off handle and attempted to force land in a field. The airplane overshot the intended landing area and collided with a fence before impacting terrain. A post-crash inspection of the engine revealed that an oil line fitting had been improperly installed resulting in a depletion of oil. An inspection of the airframe did not reveal any anomalies.

## Factual narrative

On September 8, 2009, approximately 0830 Mountain Daylight Time, a Grumman G-164A, N6761Q, was substantially damaged during a forced landing near Kimball, Nebraska. The commercial pilot was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed for the Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 137 aerial application flight. The local flight originated at Western Nebraska Regional Airport/William B. Heilig Field (KBFF), Scottsdale, Nebraska, at 0745. According to a statement provided by the pilot, the airplane was maneuvered for the last pass of aerial application when the turbo-prop engine lost power and "backfired" several times. He added, that engine power surged several times before he pulled the emergency fuel shut-off handle and set up for a forced landing. The airplane overshot the intended landing area and collided with a fence and terrain before coming to rest in the upright position. Substantial damage was sustained to the airplane's fuselage. An inspection of the engine by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed that the engine oil supply line was disconnected. Further examination of the oil line fitting revealed signatures consistent with improper thread engagement during installation. An inspection of the airframe did not reveal any anomalies.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N6761Q](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N6761Q), registered now, S/N 1352, built 1974 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: GRUMMAN ACFT ENG COR-SCHWEIZER G-164A
- Registry model: [Grumman Acft ENG Cor-Schweizer G-164A](https://openairdocs.org/model/grumman-acft-eng-cor-schweizer-g-164a) (registry code 3952801) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Pratt & Whitney R1340 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-r1340-series) (registry code 52016, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 1352
- Airframe hours: 8460.2
- Engines: Garrett TPE331 600 horsepower turbo prop
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Aerial application, Part 137
- Operator: Reisig Brothers Aerial Spray Inc
- Registered owner: Reisig Brothers Aerial Spray Inc
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special)
- Last inspection: Annual, March 14, 2009, 268 hours before
- Departed: KBFF, Heilig Field, NE
- Destination: KBFF, Heilig Field, NE

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 54; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review March 29, 2009; seat: single; flight hours: 13,423 total, 760 in this make and model, 13,370 as pilot in command

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC)
- Wind: 200° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 59 °F, dew point 52 °F
- Altimeter: 29.95 inHg
- Observed at: KIBM, 7 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 20090908018029A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20090908018029A), Sep 8, 2009: Scwzer G164A, Scottsbluff, NE, Substantial damage. On September 8, 2009, at 0830 MDT, a Grumman G-164A ag cat, N6761Q, registered to reisig brothers aerial spray inc., lost power during cruise flight returning…

## Docket (1 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on January 7, 2010, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=74689. 716 KB in all.

- Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 716 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40321544&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.