# NTSB CEN16LA180: Grumman Acft ENG Cor-Schweizer G 164B, N8362K, Lyons Point, LA, May 11, 2016

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: May 11, 2016, 14:00 local (19:00 UTC)
- Place: Lyons Point, LA
- Coordinates: 30.090833, -92.416946
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.0908&lon=-92.4169&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Fuel contamination](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/193)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 1 minor
- Status: Completed, report October 6, 2016
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Central Region
- Parties: Federal Aviation Administration
- NTSB case key (mKey): 93155
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN16LA180
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/93155/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=93155
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN16LA180

## Probable cause

A total loss of engine power due to debris contamination of the fuel system. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's inadequate preflight inspection.

## Findings

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

- [Fluids: fuel](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010): Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware · Fluid condition (probable cause); cases with it: [Grumman Acft ENG Cor-Schweizer G-164B, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md?model=3952802), [All aircraft, 1,695 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md)
- [Fuel system](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022800): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Related operating info (probable cause); cases with it: [Grumman Acft ENG Cor-Schweizer G-164B, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022800/cases.md?model=3952802), [All aircraft, 181 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022800/cases.md)
- [Inspection: preflight inspection](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061510): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Grumman Acft ENG Cor-Schweizer G-164B, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061510/cases.md?model=3952802), [All aircraft, 551 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061510/cases.md)
- [Fluids: fuel](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010): Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware · Inadequate inspection (probable cause); cases with it: [Grumman Acft ENG Cor-Schweizer G-164B, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md?model=3952802), [All aircraft, 1,695 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

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

- [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Fuel contamination](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/193) (defining event); cases with it: [Grumman Acft ENG Cor-Schweizer G-164B, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/193/sequence.md?model=3952802), [All aircraft, 225 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/193/sequence.md)
- [Landing: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440); cases with it: [Grumman Acft ENG Cor-Schweizer G-164B, 17 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=3952802), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot departed for the seventh of fifteen planned aerial application flights that day; the engine subsequently lost total power. The pilot conducted a forced landing to a rice field. A fuel sample drained from the airplane following the accident was cloudy and contained floating debris. Postaccident examination of the fuel system revealed a significant amount of debris, including grass, leaves, insects, and dirt, in the fuel control filter and airframe filter bowl. Further examination of the fuel filter assembly revealed that the inlet and outlet holes of the filter housing, as well as the filter inlet hose, contained debris of sufficient quantity to result in a disruption of fuel flow to the engine. Whether the pilot conducted a preflight inspection could not be determined; however, a fuel sample taken prior to the flight would likely have displayed contamination.

## Factual narrative

On May 11, 2016, about 1400 central daylight time, a Grumman G-164B AgCat airplane, N8362K, made a forced landing in a field near Lyons Point, Louisiana. The commercial rated pilot was not injured and the airplane sustained substantial damage. The airplane was registered to and operated by Vincent Flying Service, Inc., Kaplan, Louisiana, under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 137 as an aerial application flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident and no flight plan was filed. The local flight had just departed from a private air strip. The pilot reported that he was conducting his seventh aerial application job of the day and this particular job involved fifteen total application loads. On the accident flight he had just departed the private strip which was the seventh load and the airplane had been loaded with about 60 gallons of fuel and the hopper contained about 2,000 lbs of applicant. When the airplane was above the height of a telephone pole (50 to 75 ft) and with no prior indications, the engine experienced a total loss of power and the pilot made a forced landing to a rice field. During the landing roll, the left main landing gear broke and the airplane continued onto a farm road. After the airplane came to rest, smoke was observed from the engine compartment and fuel was leaking from the fuel tanks. The responding Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector reported that there was fuel on the ground near the breached fuel tank and there was corrosion around the fuel tank inlet cap. About 9 gallons of fuel were recovered from the fuel tanks; 7 gallons in the left tank and 2 gallons in the right tank. An examination of the fuel control filter revealed that the fuel was cloudy and contained floating debris. The paper filter was discolored and contained debris. The airframe fuel filter bowl contained a significant amount of debris including leaves, grass, insects, and dirt. The right fuel tank and associated fuel screens were clear of any debris. A review if the airplane maintenance records revealed that an annual inspection was completed on November 1, 2015, and a 100-hour inspection was completed on February 15, 2016.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N8362K](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8362K-2018-06-29), registration cancelled 2018-06-29, S/N 662B, built 1981 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: GRUMMAN ACFT ENG COR-SCHWEIZER G 164B (B)
- Registry model: [Grumman Acft ENG Cor-Schweizer G-164B](https://openairdocs.org/model/grumman-acft-eng-cor-schweizer-g-164b) (registry code 3952802) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Pratt & Whitney R1340 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-r1340-series) (registry code 52016, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 662B
- Year built: 1981
- Airframe hours: 11936.1
- Engines: Pratt & Whitney PT6A-34 750 horsepower turbo prop
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Aerial application, Part 137
- Operator: Vincent Flying Service Inc
- Registered owner: Vincent Flying Service Inc
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special)
- Last inspection: 100 hour, February 15, 2016, 6,565 hours before
- Departed: Lyons Point, LA
- Destination: Lyons Point, LA
- Airport: ---, Merrit Landing Strip

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 31; injuries: minor; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review February 13, 2015; seat: single; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 4,560 total, 4,560 as pilot in command, 200 in the last 90 days, 100 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 140° at 12 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 5,000 ft broken
- Temperature: 82 °F, dew point 73 °F
- Altimeter: 30.06 inHg
- Observed at: KIYA, 17 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 20160511005669A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20160511005669A), May 11, 2016: Grumman Acft Eng Cor-Schweizer G-164B, Kaplan, LA, Substantial damage. After departing grass strip just off lyon point hwy. with load #7 of the day, the aircraft was in a right hand turn at 60? AGL when the engine immediately…

## Docket (3 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on July 14, 2016, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=93155. 2.4 MB in all.

- Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 542 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40442340&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF
- FAA Report - Excerpts (item 2, .PDF, 1.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40442341&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=FAA%20Report%20-%20Excerpts-Master.PDF
- Photos (Courtesy of FAA) (item 3, .PDF, 8 photos, 804 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40442342&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photos%20(Courtesy%20of%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.

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