# NTSB CEN21LA072: Grumman G164, N48594, Elton, LA, December 1, 2020 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report - Date: December 1, 2020, 14:30 local (20:30 UTC) - Place: Elton, LA - Coordinates: 30.438259, -92.671434 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.4383&lon=-92.6714&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Takeoff: Loss of engine power (partial)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 3 - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 102362 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN21LA072 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/102362/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=102362 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN21LA072 ## Probable cause The loss of engine power, which resulted in a forced landing on unsuitable terrain. The reason for the loss of engine power could not be determined based on available evidence. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Terrain: wet/muddy terrain](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021035): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome (probable cause); cases with it: [Grumman Acft ENG Cor-Schweizer G-164A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021035/cases.md?model=3952801), [All aircraft, 110 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021035/cases.md) - [Not determined](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000): Not determined › Not determined · Unknown/Not determined (probable cause); cases with it: [Grumman Acft ENG Cor-Schweizer G-164A, 8 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md?model=3952801), [All aircraft, 2,247 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Takeoff: Loss of engine power (partial)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342) (defining event); cases with it: [Grumman Acft ENG Cor-Schweizer G-164A, 8 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342/sequence.md?model=3952801), [All aircraft, 1,858 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342/sequence.md) ## Analysis According to the pilot, the airplane departed from a local grass strip at near maximum gross weight to fertilize a nearby ryegrass field. Shortly after takeoff, the engine began “running bad," and the pilot added power, but the engine began running worse. The pilot reported the engine then stopped developing power and he made a forced landing in a muddy field about 1/4 mile from the grass strip. The airplane nosed over during the landing and came to rest inverted, sustaining substantial damage to the vertical stabilizer and rudder. A postaccident examination of the airplane, which included the fuel system and a functional test of the magnetos, revealed no evidence of any preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. The atmospheric conditions at the time of the accident were conducive to the accumulation of carburetor ice while operating at cruise or glide power setting. However, the engine power setting used during the takeoff would have been significantly higher than the cruise or descent engine setting; therefore, it is unlikely that carburetor ice accumulated during the accident takeoff. The reason for the loss of engine power could not be determined based on the available evidence. ## Factual narrative On December 1, 2020, about 1430 central standard time, a Grumman G164 airplane, N48594, was involved in an accident near Elton, Louisiana. The commercial pilot was not injured, and the airplane sustained substantial damage. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 137 aerial application flight. According to the pilot, the airplane contained a load of fertilizer and was near maximum gross weight when it departed from the local grass strip to fertilize a ryegrass field about 3.5 miles to the north. Shortly after takeoff, the engine began “running bad", and the pilot added power, but the engine began running worse. The pilot reported the engine then stopped developing power and he made a forced landing in a muddy field about ¼ mile from the grass strip. The airplane nosed over during the landing and came to rest inverted. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the vertical stabilizer and rudder. The engine and airframe were examined at the operator by inspectors from the Federal Aviation Administration. Visual examination of the engine revealed no anomalies. The engine fuel filter and oil filter were clean and clear of contaminants. Compression was noted on all engine cylinders. The magnetos were removed and tested at a repair facility. A functional test of the magnetos revealed no anomalies. The atmospheric conditions at the time of the accident were conducive to the accumulation of carburetor ice while operating at cruise or glide power setting. However, the engine power setting used during the takeoff would have been significantly higher than the cruise or descent engine setting; therefore, it is unlikely that carburetor ice accumulated during the accident takeoff. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N48594](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N48594-2021-04-24), registration cancelled 2021-04-24, S/N 1677, built 1976 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: GRUMMAN G164 - Registry model: [Grumman Acft ENG Cor-Schweizer G-164A](https://openairdocs.org/model/grumman-acft-eng-cor-schweizer-g-164a) (registry code 3952801) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 1677 - Year built: 1976 - Airframe hours: 7650 - Engines: Pratt and Whitney R1340-AN1 600 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Aerial application, Part 137 - Operator: Riceland Aviation Inc - Registered owner: Riceland Aviation Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, March 3, 2020 - Destination: Same as departure - Equipment: None ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 24; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review January 28, 2019; seat: single; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 3,835 total, 2,238 in this make and model, 150 in the last 90 days, 60 in the last 30 days, 5 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 180° at 8 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 53 °F, dew point 27 °F - Observed at: KACP, 19 nm away - METAR: KACP 012035Z AUTO 20007KT 10SM CLR 14/M05 A3020 RMK AO2 ## 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 20201201016539A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20201201016539A), Dec 1, 2020: Grumman Acft Eng Cor-Schweizer G-164A, Elton, LA, Substantial damage. After departing private grass strip to resume aerial application operations, pilot reported that shortly after takeoff the engine started to run rough and lose… ## Other investigations on N48594 (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 MKC77DCJ26](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MKC77DCJ26), Jun 28, 1977: Grumman G-164A (N48594), Sidney, NE, substantial damage ## Docket (5 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 15, 2022, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=102362. 6.4 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 7 pages, 4.7 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12209898&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Operator%206120_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Record of conversation FAA inspector (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 156 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12209958&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=ROC%20FAA-Rel.pdf - Record of conversation tulsa aircraft engines (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 155 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12210184&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=ROC%20Tulsa%20Aircraft%20Engines-Rel.pdf - Carburetor icing probability chart (item 4, PDF, 1 page, 112 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14010313&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Carburetor%20Icing%20Probability%20Chart-Rel.pdf - Photo array (item 5, PDF, 2 pages, 1.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12209908&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%20Array-Rel.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.