# NTSB CEN13LA551: Grumman Acft ENG Cor-Schweizer G 164B, N8251K, Clemville, TX, September 4, 2013

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: September 4, 2013, 14:00 local (19:00 UTC)
- Place: Clemville, TX
- Coordinates: 29.046112, -96.116668 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.0461&lon=-96.1167&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Miscellaneous/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report February 3, 2014
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Central Region
- Parties: FAA Houston FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 88055
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN13LA551
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/88055/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=88055
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN13LA551

## Probable cause

The uncommanded inflight application of parking brake due to a loose valve, which resulted in a noseover during landing.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Aircraft capability: braking capability](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01061050): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Malfunction (probable cause); cases with it: [Grumman Acft ENG Cor-Schweizer G-164B, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01061050/cases.md?model=3952802), [All aircraft, 57 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01061050/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Enroute: Miscellaneous/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900); cases with it: [Grumman Acft ENG Cor-Schweizer G-164B, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900/sequence.md?model=3952802), [All aircraft, 1,556 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900/sequence.md)
- [Landing-flare/touchdown: Miscellaneous/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900) (defining event); cases with it: [Grumman Acft ENG Cor-Schweizer G-164B, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900/sequence.md?model=3952802), [All aircraft, 1,556 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900/sequence.md)
- [Landing-landing roll: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096); cases with it: [Grumman Acft ENG Cor-Schweizer G-164B, 19 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md?model=3952802), [All aircraft, 2,287 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md)

## Analysis

While inbound for landing the pilot stepped on the brake pedals and the "brakes felt really tight," so he quit applying pressure. During the landing roll, immediately after touchdown, the tailwheel-equipped airplane slowed quickly, nosed over, impacted the ground, and came to rest inverted. A postaccident examination of the parking brake revealed a loose valve, which allowed uncommanded movement of the valve into the locked position.

## Factual narrative

On September 4, 2013, about 1400 central daylight time, N8251K, a Grumman Aircraft Engineering Corporation-Schweizer, G-164B, single engine turboprop airplane, was substantially damaged during landing at Hlavinka Ag Strip, Clemville, Texas. The pilot was not injured. The airplane was registered to and operated by Fehmel Planes, Inc.; Bay City, Texas. Day visual meteorological conditions (VMC) prevailed at the time of the accident and a flight plan had not been filed for the 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 137 agricultural aircraft application flight. The airplane had departed Hlavinka Ag Strip about 1330 for the local flight. The pilot reported that for several previous several flights his left brake pedal had started to feel "spongy" and that he had to pump the brake pedal while still inflight in order to get adequate brake performance. While inbound for the last landing the pilot again stepped on the brake pedals and the "brakes felt really tight" so he quit applying pressure. During the landing roll, immediately after touchdown, the tail-wheel equipped airplane slowed quickly, nosed over, impacted terrain and came to rest inverted. The impact resulted in substantial damage to the vertical fin, rudder, both upper wings, and the engine mount. A postaccident examination of the parking brake valve revealed loose operation which allowed an uncommanded movement of the valve into the locked position.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N8251K](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8251K-2017-04-04), registration cancelled 2017-04-04, S/N 634B (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: GRUMMAN ACFT ENG COR-SCHWEIZER G 164B
- Registry model: [Grumman Acft ENG Cor-Schweizer G-164B](https://openairdocs.org/model/grumman-acft-eng-cor-schweizer-g-164b) (registry code 3952802) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 634B
- Year built: 1979
- Airframe hours: 17970
- Engines: PWC PT6A-27 550 hp turbo prop
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Aerial application, Part 137
- Operator: Fehmel Planes Inc, doing business as Fehmel Planes Inc
- Registered owner: Fehmel Planes Inc
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special)
- Last inspection: Annual, April 4, 2013, 97 hours before
- Departed: NONE, Clemville, TX
- Destination: NONE, Clemville, TX
- Airport: NONE, Hlavinka Ag Strip, runway 17, 2,000 × 40 ft, dirt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 45; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; seat: single; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 13,247 total, 8,508 in this make and model, 349 in the last 90 days, 104 in the last 30 days, 8 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 70° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 88 °F, dew point 77 °F
- Altimeter: 30.01 inHg
- Observed at: KBYY, 14 nm away

## 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 20130904018319A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20130904018319A), Sep 4, 2013: Grumman Acft Eng Cor-Schweizer G-164B, Houston, TX, Substantial damage. The aircraft was found facing north, along a field road that runs north and south. The road was hard packed and dry. The tire and propeller marks showed the…

## Other investigations on N8251K (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 FTW94LA266](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW94LA266), Aug 10, 1994: Grumman G-164B (N8251K), Matagorda, TX, destroyed. Probable cause: A POWER LOSS DUE TO CRACKED ENGINE CYLINDER. A FACTOR WAS THE LACK OF SUITABLE TERRAIN FOR THE FORCED LANDING.

## Docket (5 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on December 13, 2013, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=88055. 4.6 MB in all.

- Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 1.4 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40404755&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF
- IIC's conversations with A&P Mechanic who examined the airplane wreckage (item 2, .PDF, 65 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40405489&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=IIC%27s%20conversations%20with%20A%26P%20Mechanic%20who%20examined%20the%20airplane%20wreckage-Master.PDF
- Maps (item 3, .PDF, 386 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40405465&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Maps-Master.PDF
- Weather Summary (item 4, .PDF, 82 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40405464&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Weather%20Summary-Master.PDF
- Photo (item 5, .PDF, 2.7 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40405466&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo-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.

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