# NTSB CEN11LA610: Grumman Acft ENG Cor-Schweizer G-164A, N48378, Monette, AR, August 29, 2011 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 29, 2011, 17:00 local (22:00 UTC) - Place: Monette, AR - Coordinates: 35.904998, -90.336669 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.9050&lon=-90.3367&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Takeoff: Loss of engine power (partial)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report December 19, 2012 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 81657 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN11LA610 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/81657/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=81657 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN11LA610 ## Probable cause The fracture of the throttle cable in tensile overstress because of wear damage, which resulted in the partial loss of engine power. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Engine controls: power lever](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057603): Aircraft › Aircraft power plant · Fatigue/wear/corrosion (probable cause); cases with it: [Grumman Acft ENG Cor-Schweizer G-164A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057603/cases.md?model=3952801), [All aircraft, 95 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057603/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) (defining event); cases with it: [Grumman Acft ENG Cor-Schweizer G-164A, 8 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342/sequence.md?model=3952801), [All aircraft, 1,858 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342/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: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096); cases with it: [Grumman Acft ENG Cor-Schweizer G-164A, 8 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md?model=3952801), [All aircraft, 2,287 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md) ## Analysis While climbing out from a private airstrip, the airplane experienced a partial loss of power at 150 feet, and the pilot executed an emergency forced landing in a cotton field. The airplane touched down in the field and subsequently nosed over, coming to rest inverted. The throttle cable was found fractured between the engine and the firewall. Laboratory examination determined that the cable fractured in tensile overstress associated with wear damage. The wear damage is consistent with a sharp bend in the cable trajectory. It is likely that the push-pull operation of the throttle cable may have resulted in further damage to the cable. ## Factual narrative On August 29, 2011, approximately 1745 central daylight time, a Grumman Aircraft Eng G-164A, N48378, was substantially damaged during a forced landing, following a loss of engine power, near Monette, Arkansas. The commercial pilot was not injured. The airplane was registered to and operated by Tri-Air LLC., of Monette, Arkansas, under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 137 as an aerial application flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and a flight plan had not been filed for the local flight. According to the pilot, after takeoff and when the airplane was approximately 150 feet above ground level, the engine lost partial power. Unable to maintain altitude, the pilot executed a forced landing to a cotton field. During the rollout the airplane nosed over and came to rest inverted. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage and both wings. During the postaccident examination the throttle cable was found separated near the carburetor. The cable was removed and examined at the National Transportation Safety Board’s materials laboratory. The examination revealed that the throttle cable was fractured in tensile overstress which was associated with wear damage. The wear damage is consistent with a sharp bend in the cable trajectory. No further mechanical discrepancies were noted that would have contributed to the partial loss of engine power. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N48378](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N48378-2015-02-19), registration cancelled 2015-02-19, S/N 1620, built 1976 (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: 1620 - Engines: P&W R1340 SERIES 600 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Aerial application, Part 137 - Operator: Tri-Air LLC - Registered owner: Tri-Air LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special) - Last inspection: Unknown, December 8, 2010 - Departed: Monette, AR - Destination: Monette, AR ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 24; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review January 29, 2011; seat: center; flight hours: 1,250 total, 60 in this make and model, 1,200 as pilot in command, 520 in the last 90 days, 290 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 88 °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 20110829020079A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20110829020079A), Aug 29, 2011: Grumman Acft Eng Cor-Schweizer G-164A, Monette, AR, Substantial damage. On August 29, 2011, at 1655 CDT, a Grumman G-164A, N48378, registered totri-air LLC, lost engine power and performed emergency landing in cotton field after… ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 22, 2012, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=81657. 1.6 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 400 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40379413&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Materials Laboratory 15 - Factual Report 12-081 (item 2, .PDF, 12 photos, 890 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40375229&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Materials%20Laboratory%2015%20-%20Factual%20Report%2012-081-Master.PDF - Photograph 1 - Accident airplane invertied in field (item 3, .PDF, 287 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40378634&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photograph%201%20-%20Accident%20airplane%20invertied%20in%20field-Master.PDF - Telephone Correspondence (item 4, .PDF, 50 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40378636&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Telephone%20Correspondence-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.