# NTSB CEN11CA071: Grumman G-164, N554Y, Michigan, ND, October 11, 2010 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: October 11, 2010, 15:00 local (20:00 UTC) - Place: Michigan, ND - Coordinates: 47.890277, -98.086112 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=47.8903&lon=-98.0861&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Initial climb: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report March 16, 2011 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 77811 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN11CA071 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/77811/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=77811 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN11CA071 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to abort the takeoff roll following a noticeable loss of engine power due to low engine compression and a magneto failure. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Electrical power system](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022400): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Failure (probable cause); cases with it: [Grumman G-164, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022400/cases.md?model=3952702), [All aircraft, 48 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022400/cases.md) - [Engine (reciprocating): recip eng cyl section](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058530): Aircraft › Aircraft power plant · Failure (probable cause); cases with it: [Grumman G-164, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058530/cases.md?model=3952702), [All aircraft, 373 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058530/cases.md) - [Info processing/decision: decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Grumman G-164, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md?model=3952702), [All aircraft, 3,098 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Takeoff: Loss of engine power (partial)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342); cases with it: [Grumman G-164, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342/sequence.md?model=3952702), [All aircraft, 1,858 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342/sequence.md) - [Initial climb: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) (defining event); cases with it: [Grumman G-164, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=3952702), [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md) - [Emergency descent: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Grumman G-164, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=3952702), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot stated that, during an attempted takeoff of an aerial application flight, the engine did not appear to be producing as much power as he anticipated. When the airplane became airborne, about 300 feet before the departure end of the runway, it experienced a total loss of engine power. The pilot lowered the nose and the airplane impacted the runway's overrun area and nosed over; it came to rest inverted about 300 feet past the departure end of the runway. A postaccident examination by Federal Aviation Administration inspectors revealed that they were unable to obtain compression in two engine cylinders. They additionally found that a magneto was inoperative; no other anomalies were found. ## Factual narrative The pilot stated that during the attempted takeoff of an aerial application flight, the engine power seemed low. He continued the takeoff and then realized that the airplane would not remain airborne so he pulled the dump handle releasing about 40 gallons of the 150 gallon load. When the airplane became airborne, about 300 feet before the departure end of the runway, it experienced a total loss of engine power. The pilot lowered the nose and the airplane impacted the runway's overrun area and nosing over. It came to rest inverted about 300 feet past the departure end of the runway. The airplane sustained substantial damage, which included structural damage to both wings and the fuselage. The pilot was uninjured. Examination of the airplane by the Federal Aviation Administration revealed two cylinders that were unable to produce compression and an inoperative magneto. No other anomalies were found. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N554Y](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N554Y-2018-01-05), registration cancelled 2018-01-05, S/N 225, built 1963 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: GRUMMAN G-164 - Registry model: [Grumman G-164](https://openairdocs.org/model/grumman-g-164) (registry code 3952702) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Pratt & Whitney R-985 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-r-985-series) (registry code 52008, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 225 - Engines: Pratt & Whitney R-985 Series reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Aerial application, Part 137 - Operator: Orwick Spraying Service - Registered owner: Pro Air Service Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special) - Departed: PVT, Michigan, ND - Destination: PVT, Michigan, ND - Airport: PVT, Private, runway 09 ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 45; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review August 1, 2008; seat: single; flight hours: 11,000 total, 2,000 in this make and model, 10,950 as pilot in command, 450 in the last 90 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 110° at 6 knots - Visibility: 15 statute miles ## 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 20101011052009A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20101011052009A), Oct 11, 2010: Grumman G-164, Michigan, ND, Substantial damage. Airman stated that in his attempt to take off on his easterly runway the aircraft seemed to be low on power but that all engine instruments were normal. He… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on November 24, 2010, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=77811. 565 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 516 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40339619&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Record of Conversation - FAA (item 2, .PDF, 50 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40342448&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation%20-%20FAA-Master.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.