CEN13LA191

NTSB accident investigation · Grumman Acft ENG Cor-Schweizer G-164B · Beech Grove, AR · March 8, 2013

Accident · Minor injuriesLimited investigationFinal report
Date
March 8, 2013, 16:00 local (21:00 UTC)
Place
Beech Grove, AR
Injuries
1 minor
Damage
Substantial damage
Phase of flight
Takeoff
Aircraft
N6902KGrumman Acft ENG Cor-Schweizer G-164B
Defining event
Takeoff: Loss of control on ground
Weather
Visual (VMC) · Day
Status
Completed · report July 18, 2013
Report
Approved by Office Director
NTSB office
Central Region
Parties
Federal Aviation Administration
FAA report
20130308002869A
Case key
86424

From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.

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Probable cause

The pilot’s failure to maintain control of the airplane during the takeoff roll.

Findings · 2

NTSB’s coded findings. Those marked are part of the probable cause; the rest are factors or other findings. Under each, the cases with the same finding.

Performance/control parametersAircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Incorrect use/operationGrumman Acft ENG Cor-Schweizer G-164B: 4 casesAll aircraft: 1,269 casesProbable cause

Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event is the one that best describes the accident. Under each, the cases with the same event anywhere in their sequence.

Analysis

The pilot reported that the airplane was loaded with 114 gallons of fuel and 250 gallons of weed killer, which was a normal load for this type of operation. He indicated that during the takeoff roll, the airplane started to get “light” so he attempted to become airborne. The airplane then settled back down on the runway, bounced, and then veered off the left side of the runway. The left wing impacted terrain and the airplane subsequently bounced into an adjacent open field. The pilot reported no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

Factual narrative

On March 8, 2013, about 1600 central daylight time, a Grumman 164B airplane, N6902K, veered off the left side of the runway during takeoff and impacted terrain at a private airstrip in Beech Grove, Arkansas. The commercial pilot, who was the sole occupant, was not injured. During the attempted takeoff, the left wing impacted the ground and was substantially damaged. The airplane was registered to HDS, Inc. and operated by Kin-CO Ag Aviation, Inc. under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 137 as an aerial application flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. The local flight was originating at the time of the accident. In a statement provided by the pilot, the airplane was loaded with 114 gallons of fuel and 250 gallons of weed killer, which was a normal load for this type of operation. He checked his seat belt and shoulder harness and centered the airplane on the runway. During the takeoff roll, the pilot described the airplane as getting “light” so he attempted to become airborne. The airplane then settled back down on the runway, bounced off of the right main landing gear, and then veered off the left side of the runway. The left wing impacted terrain and the airplane subsequently bounced into the open field. The pilot reported no mechanical malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

Aircraft

Registration
N6902K
Reported as
Grumman Acft ENG Cor-Schweizer G-164B
Category
Airplane
Serial number
517B
Airframe hours
14,480
Engine
Honeywell TPE 331-6-252, 665 horsepower, reciprocating
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Aerial application · Part 137
Operator
Kin-CO Ag Aviation, Inc.
Registered owner
Hds Inc
Airworthiness certificate
Special, Restricted (Special)
Last inspection
Annual · March 15, 2011 · 1,910 hours before
Departed
Beech Grove, AR
Destination
Beech Grove, AR
Airport
Private

Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

Role
Pilot
Age
27
Injuries
None
Certificate
Commercial
Airplane ratings
Single-engine land
Instrument ratings
Airplane
Medical
Class 2, Without waivers/limitations
Last flight review
March 1, 2012
Seat
Single
Flight hours
747 total · 15 in this make and model · 659 as pilot in command · 20 in the last 90 days · 15 in the last 30 days

Weather

Conditions
Visual (VMC) · Day
Wind
60° at 6 knots
Visibility
10 statute miles
Lowest ceiling
None
Temperature
55 °F, dew point 34 °F
Altimeter
30.26 inHg
Observed at
JBR, 20 nm away

Docket · 2

The files NTSB released with the investigation on May 21, 2013, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 740 KB in all.

FAA reports on this event · 1

The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.

Other investigations on N6902K · 1

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.