- Date
- August 3, 2020, 14:00 local (19:00 UTC)
- Place
- Alicia, AR
- Injuries
- 1 minor
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Takeoff
- Aircraft
- N8105KGrumman G164
- Defining event
- Takeoff: Part(s) separation from AC
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- Investigation class
- Class 3
- NTSB office
- Central Region
- Parties
- Flight Standards District Office
- FAA report
- 20200803013339A
- Case key
- 101754
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
Inadequate maintenance of panel fasteners, which led to a side panel coming loose during takeoff and the pilot having to make a subsequent forced landing to a flooded rice field when the airplane became difficult to control.
Findings · 4
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
During takeoff for an aerial spray flight, the pilot noticed a side panel come loose on the right side of the airplane. When the airplane became difficult to control, the pilot elected to make a forced landing into a flooded rice field, which damaged both wings and fuselage. Examination revealed the fasteners for the side panel and airframe had significant wear, which resulted in the panel coming loose during takeoff. Inadequate maintenance allowed the airworthiness hazard to exist during takeoff.
Factual narrative
On August 3, 2020, about 1400 central daylight time, a Grumman G164 airplane, N8105K, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Alicia, Arkansas. The pilot suffered serious injuries. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 137 aerial application flight. The pilot stated that soon after takeoff from a private airstrip, a side panel came loose on the right side of the airplane. Due to difficulties with controlling the airplane that included an un-commanded pitch up, the pilot elected to make a forced landing into a flooded rice field, which damaged both wings and fuselage. Examination revealed the fasteners for the airframe and side panel both had significant wear, which resulted in the panel coming loose during the flight. The leading edge of the elevator was also found to be rusted and covered with duct tape.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N8105K
- Reported as
- Grumman G164 (B)
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 566B
- Built
- 1979
- Airframe hours
- 8,996
- Engine
- Garrett TPE331-1-1012, 715 horsepower, turbo prop
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial application · Part 137
- Operator
- Swifton Aviation
- Registered owner
- Winemiller Steve
- Airworthiness certificate
- Special, Restricted (Special)
- Last inspection
- Annual · February 18, 2020
- Departed
- PRI · Alicia, AR
- Destination
- PRI · Alicia, AR
- Airport
- Pri, runway PRIVATE, 2,680 × 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
- 64
- Injuries
- Minor
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Multi-engine land, Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 2, With waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- April 1, 2020
- Seat
- Single
- Restraint
- 3-point
- Flight hours
- 27,943 total · 25,000 in this make and model · 27,943 as pilot in command · 80 in the last 30 days · 1 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 350° at 6 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 84 °F, dew point 68 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.96 inHg
- Observed at
- KARG, 17 nm away
Docket · 3
The files NTSB released with the investigation on April 25, 2022, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 2.2 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 N8105K · 1
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.