CEN16LA173

NTSB accident investigation · Grumman Acft ENG Cor-Schweizer G 164B · Iowa, LA · May 4, 2016

Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal report
Date
May 4, 2016, 11:30 local (16:30 UTC)
Place
Iowa, LA
Injuries
1 uninjured
Damage
Substantial damage
Phase of flight
Landing
Aircraft
N8400KGrumman Acft ENG Cor-Schweizer G 164B
Defining event
Landing: Loss of control on ground
Weather
Visual (VMC) · Day
Status
Completed · report October 6, 2016
Report
Approved by Office Director
NTSB office
Central Region
Parties
Flight Standards District Office
FAA report
20160504005049A
Case key
93110

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 directional control while landing with an inoperative right brake.

Findings · 1

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.

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 of the agricultural application airplane was landing at a satellite airport when he noticed that the right brake was not operating. He executed a go-around and diverted to his home airport, which was equipped with a longer, wider runway. The pilot reported that, during the landing roll, a "gust of wind turned the airplane to the left," and he attempted to correct by applying full power. The airplane subsequently exited the left side of the runway and impacted a fence.

Factual narrative

On May 4, 2016, about 1130 central daylight time, a Grumman G-164B airplane, N8400K, was substantially damaged during landing at the O'Brien Flying Service Airport (LA71), Ames, Louisiana. The pilot was not injured. The airplane was registered to and operated by O'Briens Flying Service, Inc., under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 137 as an aerial spraying flight. Day visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the flight, with no flight plan filed. The local flight departed a private airport about 1110. The pilot stated he had been conducting spray operations since 0730. While landing at a private (satellite) airport, he noticed the right brake was not operating. The pilot executed a go-around and diverted to LA71, based on his desire to land on a longer/wider runway. While landing on Runway 3, the airplane drifted left during rollout. The pilot applied full engine power in an unsuccessful attempt to correct to centerline. The airplane subsequently impacted a fence, which damaged both wings. Examination by Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspectors revealed a failure of the right main landing gear hydraulic fluid line, which occurred at the b-nut for the engine cowl feed through fitting. The part number for the failed line was "Right Hand Tube Assembly, P/N A2526-4".

Aircraft

Registration
N8400K
Reported as
Grumman Acft ENG Cor-Schweizer G 164B
Category
Airplane
Serial number
685B
Built
1982
Airframe hours
11,620
Engine
Airesearch TPE331, 750 horsepower, turbo prop
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Aerial application · Part 137
Operator
O'Briens Flying Service Inc
Registered owner
O'Briens Flying Service Inc
Airworthiness certificate
Special, Restricted (Special)
Last inspection
100 hour · March 3, 2016
Departed
PRI · Ames, LA
Destination
LA71 · Iowa, LA
Airport
LA71 · O'Brien Flying Service, runway 03, 3,800 × 100 ft, grass/turf
Equipment
Unknown

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
51
Injuries
None
Certificate
Commercial
Airplane ratings
Single-engine land, Multi-engine sea
Instrument ratings
Airplane
Medical
Class 2, Without waivers/limitations
Last flight review
March 18, 2016
Seat
Center
Restraint
4-point
Flight hours
20,108 total · 17,787 in this make and model · 19,788 as pilot in command · 225 in the last 90 days · 120 in the last 30 days · 10 in the last 24 hours

Weather

Conditions
Visual (VMC) · Day
Wind
330° at 11 knots
Visibility
10 statute miles
Lowest ceiling
None
Temperature
86 °F, dew point 52 °F
Altimeter
30.03 inHg
Observed at
KLCH, 13 nm away

Docket · 4

The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 9, 2016, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 3.3 MB 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 N8400K · 1

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