# NTSB CEN17LA230: Grumman G164, N7501Z, Delaplaine, AR, June 14, 2017 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: June 14, 2017, 18:20 local (23:20 UTC) - Place: Delaplaine, AR - Coordinates: 36.219444, -90.731391 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.2194&lon=-90.7314&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Loss of engine power (partial)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report April 13, 2020 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 95373 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN17LA230 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/95373/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=95373 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN17LA230 ## Probable cause The loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion, which resulted in a forced landing on unsuitable terrain. ## 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 level (probable cause); cases with it: [Gulfstream Schweizer A/C GULFSTREAM AM G-164C, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md?model=3979906), [All aircraft, 1,695 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md) - [Terrain: sloped/uneven terrain](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021017): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome (probable cause); cases with it: [Gulfstream Schweizer A/C GULFSTREAM AM G-164C, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021017/cases.md?model=3979906), [All aircraft, 270 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021017/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: Loss of engine power (partial)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342) (defining event); cases with it: [Gulfstream Schweizer A/C GULFSTREAM AM G-164C, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342/sequence.md?model=3979906), [All aircraft, 1,858 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342/sequence.md) - [Emergency descent: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440); cases with it: [Gulfstream Schweizer A/C GULFSTREAM AM G-164C, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=3979906), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md) - [Emergency descent: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Gulfstream Schweizer A/C GULFSTREAM AM G-164C, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=3979906), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The commercial pilot was conducting an aerial application flight. He was approaching a rice field after loading product at the company base when the engine lost partial power. The pilot executed a forced landing into the rice field; the right main landing gear struck a levee, and the airplane flipped inverted, which resulted in substantial damage to the wings and fuselage. Examination of the wreckage did not reveal any mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane or engine and did not show any evidence of fuel. Although the top fuel tank was breached in the accident, the green grass around and underneath the wreckage did not show any evidence of fuel contamination or blight. It is likely that the engine lost power due to fuel exhaustion. ## Factual narrative On June 14, 2017, about 1820 central daylight time, a Grumman G164 agricultural airplane, N7501Z, was substantially damaged following a forced landing after a partial loss of engine power near Delaplaine, Arkansas. The commercial pilot sustained minor injuries. The airplane was registered to HDS Inc., of Beech Grove, Arkansas, and operated by Kin-Co Ag Aviation Inc., of Beech Grove, Arkansas, as a local agricultural flight under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 137. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and a company flight plan was filed. The flight originated at 1800 from the operator's private airstrip located in Delaplaine, Arkansas. The pilot reported that he was en route to spray a rice field after loading chemicals at the company base. While approaching the field, the engine was not producing full power. The pilot elected to executed a forced landing into a rice field. As the airplane landed in the field, the right main landing gear struck a levee, and the airplane flipped inverted, resulting in substantial damage to the wings and fuselage. There were no witnesses to the accident. Examination of the wreckage by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector did not reveal any mechanical anomalies with the airplane or engine and did not show any evidence of fuel. Although the top fuel tank was breached in the accident, fresh green grass around and underneath the wreckage did not show any evidence of fuel contamination, or blight. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N7501Z](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N7501Z-2021-04-10), registration cancelled 2021-04-10, S/N 42C (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Grumman G164 (C) - Registry model: [Gulfstream Schweizer A/C GULFSTREAM AM G-164C](https://openairdocs.org/model/gulfstream-schweizer-a-c-gulfstream-am-g-164c) (registry code 3979906) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 42C - Year built: 1979 - Airframe hours: 3109 - Engines: Honeywell TPE331 650 horsepower turbo prop - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Aerial application, Part 137 - Operator: KIN-CO AG Aviation Inc - Registered owner: Hds Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, March 2, 2017 - Departed: Delaplaine, AR - Destination: Delaplaine, AR - Equipment: Satellite tracking device ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 51; injuries: minor; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; seat: single; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 5,000 total, 1,270 in this make and model, 3 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 100° at 3 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 73 °F, dew point 70 °F - Altimeter: 29.92 inHg - Observed at: ARG, 11 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 20170614008329A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20170614008329A), Jun 14, 2017: Gulfstream Schweizer A/C Corp GULFSTREAM AM G-164C, Delaplaine, AR, Substantial damage. On June 14, 2017 about 19:00 central time a Gulfstream Schweizer registered as N7501Z, serial number 42C to hds inc. departed from private airstrip in… ## Other investigations on N7501Z (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 CEN14LA308](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN14LA308), Jun 19, 2014: Gulfstream Schweizer A/C Gulfstream AM G 164C (N7501Z), Beech Grove, AR, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s inadequate preflight planning, which resulted in his attempt to take off with insufficient climb performance to climb out of ground effect in the high-density altitude conditions. ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on January 10, 2020, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=95373. 2.0 MB in all. - Pilot Statement (item 1, .PDF, 69 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40479596&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%20Statement-Master.PDF - Memorandum for the Record FAA Inspector Phone Conversation Summary (item 2, .PDF, 181 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40479597&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Memorandum%20for%20the%20Record%20FAA%20Inspector%20Phone%20Conversation%20Summary-Master.PDF - Police Report (item 3, .PDF, 454 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40479598&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Police%20Report-Master.PDF - Photo Array (item 4, .PDF, 1.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40479599&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%20Array-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.