# NTSB CEN15LA175: Grumman Acft ENG Cor-Schweizer G 164A, N9755, New Roads, LA, March 17, 2015 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: March 17, 2015, 14:30 local (20:30 UTC) - Place: New Roads, LA - Coordinates: 30.532499, -91.418891 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.5325&lon=-91.4189&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Maneuvering: Powerplant sys/comp malf/fail](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/340) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report April 26, 2016 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 90895 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN15LA175 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/90895/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=90895 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN15LA175 ## Probable cause The loss of engine power due to three stuck exhaust valves. ## 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 · Malfunction (probable cause); cases with it: [Grumman Acft ENG Cor-Schweizer G-164A, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058530/cases.md?model=3952801), [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. - [Maneuvering: Powerplant sys/comp malf/fail](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/340) (defining event); cases with it: [Grumman Acft ENG Cor-Schweizer G-164A, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/340/sequence.md?model=3952801), [All aircraft, 820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/340/sequence.md) - [Maneuvering: Loss of engine power (partial)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342); 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) - [After 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 the commercial pilot was maneuvering to begin an agricultural application flight, smoke from the engine entered the cockpit, followed by the engine experiencing a partial loss of power. The pilot performed a forced landing, and during the landing roll, the airplane nosed over. An examination of the engine revealed that three of the cylinders exhaust valves were stuck and had 0-to-low compression values. ## Factual narrative On March 17, 2015, about 1430 central standard time, a Grumman G-164A airplane, N9755, performed a forced landing following a partial loss of engine power near New Roads, Louisiana. The commercial pilot, the sole occupant, received minor injuries. The airplane was substantially damaged. The aircraft was registered to a private individual and operated by Old River Applicators LLC, under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 137 as an aerial application flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the flight, which operated without a flight plan.According to information provided by the responding Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector, as the pilot was maneuvering to commence an aerial application run, smoke from the engine entered the cockpit followed by a loss of engine power. The pilot conducted a forced landing to a field when the airplane nosed over on landing resulting in damage to the vertical stabilizer. An examination of the airplane's engine by the FAA found three cylinders with stuck exhaust valves and zero to low compression values. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N9755](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N9755-2018-06-04), registration cancelled 2018-06-04, S/N 1250, built 1974 (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: 1250 - Year built: 1974 - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Aerial application, Part 137 - Operator: Old River Applicators LLC, doing business as Old River Applicators - Registered owner: Wilkes Marcus W II - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special) - Departed: New Roads, LA - Destination: New Roads, LA ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 29; injuries: minor; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; seat: single ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 280° at 8 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 84 °F, dew point 63 °F - Altimeter: 30.05 inHg - Observed at: KBTR, 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 20150317006429A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20150317006429A), Mar 17, 2015: Grumman Acft Eng Cor-Schweizer G-164A, Fordoche, LA, Destroyed. On a pass while spraying, the pilot noticed a loss of power and smoke coming from the left side of the engine. The pilot crash landed the aircraft in a field. ## Other investigations on N9755 (2) 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 ATL89DKG05](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL89DKG05), Jul 31, 1989: Grumman G-164A (N9755), Dawson, GA, substantial damage. Probable cause: FAILURE OF THE NUMBER THREE CYLINDER HEAD. - [NTSB ATL89DKG01](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL89DKG01), Feb 10, 1989: Grumman G-164A (N9755), Dawson, GA, substantial damage. Probable cause: TOTAL LOSS OF ENGINE POWER DUE TO LEAKING CARBURETOR FLOAT. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE SOFT TERRAIN USED FOR A FORCED LANDING. ## Docket (1 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on March 8, 2016, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=90895. 80 KB in all. - Correspondence with FAA (item 1, .PDF, 80 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40437451&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Correspondence%20with%20FAA-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.