# NTSB CEN11LA556: Grumman G-164A, N6567, El Campo, TX, August 18, 2011 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 18, 2011, 09:36 local (14:36 UTC) - Place: El Campo, TX - Coordinates: 29.189472, -96.270606 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.1895&lon=-96.2706&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 November 22, 2011 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA Flight Standards District Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 81431 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN11LA556 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/81431/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=81431 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN11LA556 ## Probable cause Separation of the No. 3 cylinder exhaust valve rocker arm, which resulted in a loss of engine power. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Engine (reciprocating): recip eng cyl section](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058530): Aircraft › Aircraft power plant · Failure (probable cause); cases with it: [Grumman G-164A, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058530/cases.md?model=3952704), [All aircraft, 373 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058530/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 (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) (defining event); cases with it: [Grumman G-164A, 11 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=3952704), [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 G-164A, 12 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=3952704), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096); cases with it: [Grumman G-164A, 11 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md?model=3952704), [All aircraft, 2,287 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot was about 2 miles from the departure airstrip when the engine lost power. The pilot began to dump the fertilizer load and landed straight ahead in a flooded rice field. Upon touchdown, the airplane nosed over, resulting in substantial damage to the airplane. Examination of the engine revealed a crack radiating from the exhaust valve rocker box on the No. 3 cylinder, where the rocker arm bolt attaches to the rocker arm. The top of the rocker box separated, causing the rocker arm to fail. ## Factual narrative On August 18, 2011, at 0936 central daylight time, a Grumman G-164A, N6567, registered to and operated by Aero Ag Services, Inc., impacted a rice field shortly after taking off from a grass airstrip near El Campo, Texas. The commercial pilot was not injured. The airplane sustained substantial damage to its top wing, vertical stabilizer, and rudder. The airplane was being operated under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 137 as an aerial application flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the flight, which was operating without a flight plan. The local flight originated from El Campo moments before the accident. According to the pilot-operator's accident report, he had just taken off and was about 2 miles from the airstrip when the engine lost power. The pilot started dumping his fertilizer load and landed straight ahead in a flooded rice field. Upon touchdown, the airplane nosed over. Post-accident examination revealed a crack radiating from the exhaust valve rocker box on the number 3 cylinder where the rocker arm bolt attaches the rocker arm. The top of the rocker box separated, causing the rocker arm to fail. An examination of the remaining systems revealed no preimpact failures or anomalies. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N6567](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N6567-2019-09-06), registration cancelled 2019-09-06, S/N 706, built 1970 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: GRUMMAN G-164A - Registry model: [Grumman G-164A](https://openairdocs.org/model/grumman-g-164a) (registry code 3952704) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Pratt & Whitney R1340 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-r1340-series) (registry code 52016, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 706 - Airframe hours: 12691 - Engines: P&W R-1340-AN1 600 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Aerial application, Part 137 - Operator: Aero Ag Services Inc - Registered owner: Aero Ag Services Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special); Special, Experimental light sport (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, July 28, 2011, 66 hours before - Departed: NONE, Garwood, TX - Destination: NONE, El Campo, TX ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 55; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review February 11, 2011; seat: front; flight hours: 22,250 total, 21,000 in this make and model, 225 in the last 90 days, 80 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 200° at 2 knots - Visibility: 15 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 90 °F ## 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 20110818017739A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20110818017739A), Aug 18, 2011: Grumman G-164A, El Campo, TX, Substantial damage. On 08/18/2011 at 09:36 CDT, N6567 a Grumman G-164-A departed a dirt strip near El Campo Texas with intentions of conducting agricultural operations at an… ## Other investigations on N6567 (3) 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 FTW04LA164](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW04LA164), Jun 17, 2004: Grumman G-164A (N6567), Garwood, TX, substantial damage. Probable cause: The separation of the right main landing gear wheel and axle during take-off. Contributing factors were the fatigue of the bolts on the right main landing gear and the rough and uneven terrain. - [NTSB MKC88LA161](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MKC88LA161), Aug 20, 1988: Grumman G-164A (N6567), Gillett, AR, substantial damage - [NTSB SEA71FWG37](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA71FWG37), Feb 17, 1971: Grumman G-164A (N6567), St John, WA, substantial damage ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 4, 2011, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=81431. 1.8 MB in all. - NTSB Form 6120, Pilot-Operator Aircraft Accident Report (item 1, .PDF, 457 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40354343&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=NTSB%20Form%206120,%20Pilot-Operator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report-Redacted.PDF - Photo 1 - Crack in Number 3 cylinder exhaust valve rocker box (item 2, .PDF, 681 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40354365&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201%20-%20Crack%20in%20Number%203%20cylinder%20exhaust%20valve%20rocker%20box-Master.PDF - Photo 2 - Rocker box seperation (item 3, .PDF, 668 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40354359&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%202%20-%20Rocker%20box%20seperation-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.