- Date
- August 8, 2000, 08:00 local (13:00 UTC)
- Place
- Wallace, NE
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Enroute
- Aircraft
- N3629DSchweizer G-164B
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report October 9, 2001
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 20000808013909A
- Case key
- 49941
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
the fractured number three exhaust push rod assembly and the unsuitable terrain encountered by the pilot.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
The agricultural airplane was returning to the airport after spraying a field when it nosed over during a forced landing. The airplane experienced a mechanical loss of engine power. The number 3 exhaust push rod assembly was found fractured.
Factual narrative
On August 8, 2000, at 0800 central daylight time, a Schweizer G-164B, N3629D, operated by Wallace Flying Service Incorporated, was substantially damaged on impact with terrain, in Wallace, Nebraska, following a loss of engine power. The airplane nosed over in a field during the forced landing. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed a the time of the accident. The 14 CFR Part 137 aerial application flight was not operating on a flight plan. The commercial pilot reported no injuries. The local flight originated from the Wallace Municipal Airport, Wallace, Nebraska, at 0700.
The Federal Aviation Administration Inspector stated that during the engine test run, the engine (Pratt & Whitney R1340-AN1) would not hold an engine speed above 600 rpm. Examination of the engine revealed that the number 3 cylinder exhaust rocker play was in the range of approximately 0.010-0.125 inches. The top end of the number 3 push rod assembly (part number 11876) had fractured in the area where the tube slides into the end fitting. Photos are included in this report. The engine accumulated a total time of 5,187 hours and 182 hours since overhaul.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N3629D
- Reported as
- Schweizer G-164B
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 743B
- Airframe hours
- 5,200
- Engine
- P&W R1340-AN1, 600 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial application · Part 137
- Operator
- Wallace Flying Service Inc.
- Registered owner
- Wallace Flying Service Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate
- Special, Restricted (Special)
- Departed
- 64V · NE
- Airport
- 64V · Wallace Municipal Airport
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
- 45
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine sea
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Seat
- Center
- Flight hours
- 9,942 total · 8,629 in this make and model · 9,809 as pilot in command · 250 in the last 90 days · 180 in the last 30 days · 5 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 320° at 4 knots
- Visibility
- 8 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 142 °F, dew point 138 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.00 inHg
- Observed at
- LBF, 2 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.