# NTSB CEN12LA352: Grumman G164, N779EF, Higginson, AR, June 7, 2012 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: June 7, 2012, 13:15 local (18:15 UTC) - Place: Higginson, AR - Coordinates: 35.210556, -91.737503 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.2106&lon=-91.7375&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Unknown](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/990) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Unknown: Unknown or undetermined](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/000) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report October 15, 2012 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 83912 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN12LA352 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/83912/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=83912 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN12LA352 ## Probable cause The partial loss of engine power for reasons that could not be determined due to impact and fire damage. ## 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: [All aircraft, 2,247 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Unknown: Unknown or undetermined](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/000) (defining event); cases with it: [All aircraft, 1,703 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/000/sequence.md) - [Takeoff: Loss of engine power (partial)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342); cases with it: [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: [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md) - [Post-impact: Fire/smoke (post-impact)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/170); cases with it: [All aircraft, 354 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/170/sequence.md) ## Analysis The airplane was departing the local airstrip to perform an aerial application. About 50 feet above ground level, the pilot noticed a partial loss of engine power and felt a vibration from the engine. The pilot performed a forced landing in a wheat field, and a postimpact fire ensued, which consumed the airplane. Based on his observations during the engine failure, the pilot suspected a cylinder or magneto failure. However, the engine was not disassembled for further examination and the cause of the partial loss of engine power was not determined. ## Factual narrative On June 7, 2012, approximately 1315 central daylight time, a Grumman G-164B agricultural airplane, N779EF, sustained substantial damage during a forced landing following a partial loss of engine power near Higginson, Arkansas. The commercial pilot, who was the sole occupant, was not injured. The airplane was registered to and operated by J.P. Freppon Flying Service, LLC, of Bald Knob, Arkansas, under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 137 as an aerial application flight. Visual flight rules (VFR) conditions prevailed for the flight, which did not operate on a VFR flight plan. The local flight was originating at the time of the accident.According to the pilot, he was departing the local airstrip to perform an aerial application when the accident occurred. Approximately 50 feet above ground level (agl), the pilot noticed a partial loss of engine power and felt a vibration from the engine. The pilot attempted to dump the load of fertilizer and performed a forced landing to a field. The airplane came to rest upright in a wheat field and a postimpact fire ensued. The fire consumed the airplane. Post accident examination of the airplane by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed a small crack in the number five cylinder on the Pratt & Whitney R-1340 engine. The engine was not disassembled for further examination, and it could not be determined if the crack was a result of the impact. The pilot thought that a magneto may have failed; however, due to the fire damage, the magnetos and accessories could not be tested. The reason for the partial loss of engine power was not determined. ## Aircraft - Registration: N779EF (not matched to a registry record) - Reported make and model: GRUMMAN G164 (B) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 474B - Airframe hours: 502 - Engines: Pratt & Whitney R-1340-AN-2 600 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Fire: On-Ground - Flight: Aerial application, Part 137 - Operator: J P Freppon Flying Service, LLC - Registered owner: J P Freppon Flying Service, LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, April 8, 2012 - Departed: PVT, Higginson, AR - Destination: PVT, Higginson, AR ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 32; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review May 12, 2012; seat: center; flight hours: 5,939 total, 5,337 in this make and model, 5,939 as pilot in command, 200 in the last 90 days, 100 in the last 30 days, 5 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 82 °F, dew point 52 °F - Altimeter: 30.05 inHg - Observed at: SRC ## 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 20120607009069A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20120607009069A), Jun 7, 2012: Grumman Acft Eng Cor-Schweizer G-164B, Higginson, AR, Destroyed. On June 7, 2012, at 1330 hours CST, N779EF, a 1978 Grumman ag cat model G-164B registered to j.p. freppon flying service, bald knob, AR crashed shortly after… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 8, 2012, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=83912. 620 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 568 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40372942&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Record of Conversation - FAA Inspector (item 2, .PDF, 52 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40372943&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation%20-%20FAA%20Inspector%0D%0A-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.