# NTSB CEN11LA335: Grumman Acft ENG Cor-Schweizer G-164A, N8930H, Bono, AR, May 9, 2011 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: May 9, 2011, 09:40 local (14:40 UTC) - Place: Bono, AR - Coordinates: 35.917221, -90.785278 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.9172&lon=-90.7853&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Takeoff: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report August 30, 2011 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 79091 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN11LA335 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/79091/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=79091 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN11LA335 ## Probable cause A loss of engine power for undetermined reasons. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [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-164A, 8 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md?model=3952801), [All aircraft, 2,247 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md) - [Aircraft](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01050000): Aircraft › Aircraft power plant · Failure (probable cause); cases with it: [Grumman Acft ENG Cor-Schweizer G-164A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01050000/cases.md?model=3952801), [All aircraft, 151 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01050000/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 (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) (defining event); 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) ## Analysis The pilot performed a preflight inspection of the airplane and sumped each fuel tank. Water was found in the tanks, and he sumped them until he no longer observed any water in the fuel. The pilot then started the airplane and conducted an engine check, which was normal. On takeoff, at an altitude of 60 to 100 feet, the engine began to sputter and he was unable to maintain altitude. The pilot landed in trees off the end of the runway and the airplane caught fire. Postaccident examination of the airplane revealed substantial damage to both wings and the post impact fire consumed the engine, cockpit, fuselage, empennage, left wing and the inboard section of the right wing. Due to the extensive fire damage, the source of the engine failure could not be determined. ## Factual narrative On May 9, 2011, at 0940 central daylight time, a Grumman Aircraft Corporation-Schweizer G-164A, was substantially damaged after colliding with trees after a total loss of engine power on take off from a private airstrip in Bono, Arkansas. The commercial pilot was not injured. The airplane was registered to and operated by Heartland Aerial Sprayers, Mission Valley, Iowa. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the positioning flight conducted under 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. No flight plan was filed the flight that was destined for Mission Valley, Iowa. According to the pilot, the airplane had been flown the day before the accident and there were no reported problems. On the day of the accident, he performed a preflight examination of the airplane, which included sumping all of the fuel tanks. The pilot said he found some water in the tanks, but sumped them until they drained only aviation fuel. He then started the airplane, performed a normal engine run-up and departed. When the airplane was approximately 60 to 100-feet above the runway, the engine began "spitting and sputtering." The pilot made a forced landing off the end of the runway and collided with trees. After the airplane came to a stop, the pilot noticed a fire starting in the radial engine and was able to quickly egress the airplane. A Federal Aviation Administration inspector performed a post-accident examination of the airplane. He reported that both wings sustained substantial damage and the post impact fire consumed the engine, cockpit, fuselage, empennage, left wing and the inboard section of the right wing. Due to the extensive fire damage, the source of the engine failure could not be determined. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N8930H](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8930H-2017-10-31), registration cancelled 2017-10-31, S/N 1565, built 1975 (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: 1565 - Airframe hours: 10135 - Engines: P&W R1340 SERIES 600 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Fire: On-Ground - Flight: Positioning, Part 91 - Operator: Heartland Aerial Aprayers - Registered owner: Wallin Michael L DBA - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, April 2, 2011 - Departed: Bono, AR - Destination: KUNO, West Plains, MO - Airport: Private ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 23; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; last flight review January 29, 2011; seat: front; flight hours: 730 total, 41 in this make and model, 705 as pilot in command, 193 in the last 90 days, 35 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 180° at 8 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 68 °F, dew point 43 °F - Altimeter: 29.97 inHg ## 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 20110509007699A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20110509007699A), May 9, 2011: Grumman Acft Eng Cor-Schweizer G-164A, Bono, AR, Destroyed. On may 9, 2011, at 1000 hrs CST, N8930H a 1975 Grumman Schweizer G-164A registered to michael wallin, walnut ridge, AR, crashed shortly after takeoff from the… ## Other investigations on N8930H (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 MKC90LA147](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MKC90LA147), Jul 12, 1990: Grumman G-164A (N8930H), Egypt, AR, substantial damage. Probable cause: THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL. A FACTOR RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE SOFT/MUDDY AREA ON THE RUNWAY. ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on July 1, 2011, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=79091. 803 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 733 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40349952&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Record of Conversation with FAA (item 2, .PDF, 70 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40350205&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation%20with%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.