# NTSB CEN17LA177: Grumman G-164C, N171BW, Beech Grove, AR, May 8, 2017 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: May 8, 2017, 11:30 local (16:30 UTC) - Place: Beech Grove, AR - Coordinates: 36.084167, -90.748054 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.0842&lon=-90.7481&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Takeoff: Miscellaneous/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report November 6, 2018 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA Little Rock FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 95156 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN17LA177 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/95156/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=95156 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN17LA177 ## Probable cause A tire failure for reasons that could not be determined, which resulted in a loss of directional control during takeoff. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Landing gear system: main landing gear](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023210): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Damaged/degraded (probable cause); cases with it: [Grumman Acft ENG Cor-Schweizer G-164C, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023210/cases.md?model=3952803), [All aircraft, 241 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023210/cases.md) - [Landing gear system: brake](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023242): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Damaged/degraded (probable cause); cases with it: [Grumman Acft ENG Cor-Schweizer G-164C, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023242/cases.md?model=3952803), [All aircraft, 297 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023242/cases.md) - [Landing gear system: tire casing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023244): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Damaged/degraded (probable cause); cases with it: [Grumman Acft ENG Cor-Schweizer G-164C, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023244/cases.md?model=3952803), [All aircraft, 36 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023244/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Takeoff: Miscellaneous/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900) (defining event); cases with it: [Grumman Acft ENG Cor-Schweizer G-164C, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900/sequence.md?model=3952803), [All aircraft, 1,556 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900/sequence.md) - [Takeoff: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300); cases with it: [Grumman Acft ENG Cor-Schweizer G-164C, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=3952803), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md) ## Analysis The commercial pilot reported that, during the takeoff roll, the right main tire "went flat and possibly blew." The airplane veered right and went off the side of the runway, where it impacted a ditch, bounced, turned sideways, and slid to a stop. The pilot saw fuel running out of the engine compartment and the airplane caught fire. The airplane continued to burn, and the engine compartment, cockpit, fuselage, empennage, and left wing were largely consumed by fire. The photographs taken of the wreckage at the accident site revealed that the airplane, including the main landing gear wheels, brakes, and tires, were largely consumed by fire, and fire damage precluded examination or testing of the wheels, brakes, and tires. ## Factual narrative On May 8, 2017, about 1130 central daylight time, a Grumman G-164C airplane, was destroyed by ground fire after it veered off a private airstrip during takeoff near Beech Grove, Arkansas. The commercial pilot was not injured. The airplane was owned by HDS, Inc., and operated by the pilot under the provisions of the Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 137 as an aerial application flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of flight, which was not on a flight plan. The airplane was departing the private airstrip for a local flight when the accident occurred. The pilot reported that while on takeoff roll about halfway down the runway, the right main tire "went flat and possibly blew." The airplane suddenly veered right, and it went off the side of the runway. It hit a field ditch, bounced, turned sideways, and slid to a stop. The pilot saw fuel running out of the engine compartment and it caught fire. The pilot exited the airplane without injury. The airplane continued to burn, and the engine compartment, cockpit, fuselage, empennage, and left wing were largely consumed by fire. The photographs taken of the wreckage at the accident site revealed that the airplane, including the main landing gear wheels, brakes, and tires, were largely consumed by fire. The wheels, brakes, and tires were not tested due to fire damage. At 1000, the surface weather observation at the Walnut Ridge Regional Airport (ARG) located 10 miles east of the accident site was: wind 220° at 6 knots; 10 miles visibility; sky clear; temperature 24° C; dew point 14° C; altimeter 30.10 inches of mercury. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N171BW](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N171BW-2024-12-02), registration cancelled 2024-12-02, S/N 21C (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: GRUMMAN G-164C - Registry model: [Grumman Acft ENG Cor-Schweizer G-164C](https://openairdocs.org/model/grumman-acft-eng-cor-schweizer-g-164c) (registry code 3952803) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 21C - Year built: 2009 - Airframe hours: 7192 - Engines: Honeywell TPE-10-511M 665 horsepower turbo prop - Damage: Destroyed - Fire: On-Ground - Flight: Aerial application, Part 137 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, February 20, 2017 - Departed: Beech Grove, AR - Destination: Beech Grove, AR - Airport: runway 35, 2,640 × 100 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Stall warning system ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 51; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; seat: single; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 3,668 total, 1,258 in this make and model, 3,560 as pilot in command, 85 in the last 90 days, 85 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 220° at 6 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 75 °F, dew point 57 °F - Altimeter: 30.10 inHg - Observed at: ARG, 10 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 20170508004109A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20170508004109A), May 8, 2017: Grumman Acft Eng Cor-Schweizer G-164C, Beech Grove, AR, Substantial damage. On may 8, 2017 at approximately 09:45 central time, a Grumman G-164B, registered as N171BW to hds inc, operated by kin-co ag aviation inc, attempted a takeoff… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on April 11, 2018, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=95156. 4.3 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 3.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40461873&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Investigation Photos (item 2, .PDF, 782 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40461874&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Investigation%20Photos-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.