# NTSB CHI01LA286: Grumman-Schweizer G-164A, N4598, Petersburg, NE, August 16, 2001 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 16, 2001, 16:15 local (21:15 UTC) - Place: Petersburg, NE - Coordinates: 41.849075, -98.069923 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.8491&lon=-98.0699&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report June 4, 2002 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA-Lincoln, Nebraska-FSDO - ADs cited in the narratives: [AD 78-08-07](https://openairdocs.org/ad/78-08-07) (OpenAirDocs) - NTSB case key (mKey): 53086 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI01LA286 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/53086/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI01LA286 ## Probable cause The failure of the engine cylinder, and the unsuitable terrain for landing encountered by the pilot. Factors were the low altitude and the muddy field. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(total) - mech failure/malf, maneuvering - aerial application - engine assembly,cylinder - failure,total (cause) - altitude - low (contributing factor) - Forced landing, emergency descent/landing - In flight collision with terrain/water, emergency descent/landing - unsuitable terrain or takeoff/landing/taxi area - encountered, pilot in command (cause) - terrain condition - muddy (contributing factor) ## Analysis The airplane was damaged during a forced landing following a loss of engine power during an aerial-application flight. The pilot reported, "While spraying at 6 [feet] AGL the engine began running rough and quit. I made an emergency landing in a muddy soybean field, sliding to a stop damaging the right lower wing and right landing gear." A postaccident examination of the airplane revealed that the number 8 cylinder head had separated from the cylinder barrel between the second and third cooling fins. This condition is identified in Pratt and Whitney Airworthiness Directive (AD) 78-08-07. The AD requires a recurring visual inspection of the cylinder at 150 hour or 100 hour intervals. Cylinders that had been ultrasonically tested prior to installation on the engine were to be inspected at 150 hour intervals. Cylinders that had not been ultrasonically tested prior to installation on the engine were to be inspected at 100 hour intervals . According to the aircraft maintenance records, the airplane had accumulated 99.8 hours time in service since the inspection was last performed. It is not known if the failed cylinder had been ultrasonically inspected. ## Factual narrative On August 16, 2001, about 1615 central daylight time, a Grumman-Schweizer G-164A, piloted by a commercial pilot, sustained substantial damage during a forced landing following a loss of engine power during an aerial-application flight near Petersburg, Nebraska. The 14 CFR Part 137 flight was operating in visual meteorological conditions and was not on a flight plan. The pilot, who was the sole occupant, was not injured. The local flight originated from the Antelope County Airport, Neligh, Nebraska, about 1515. The pilot reported, "While spraying at 6 [feet] AGL the engine began running rough and quit. I made an emergency landing in a muddy soybean field, sliding to a stop damaging the right lower wing and right landing gear." A postaccident examination of the airplane revealed that the number 8 cylinder head had separated from the cylinder barrel between the second and third cooling fins. This condition is identified in Pratt and Whitney Airworthiness Directive (AD) 78-08-07. The AD requires a recurring visual inspection of the cylinder at 150 hour or 100 hour intervals. Cylinders that had been ultrasonically tested prior to installation on the engine were to be inspected at 150 hour intervals. Cylinders that had not been ultrasonically tested prior to installation on the engine were to be inspected at 100 hour intervals . According to the aircraft maintenance records, the airplane had accumulated 99.8 hours time in service since the inspection was last performed. It is not known if the failed cylinder had been ultrasonically inspected. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N4598](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4598-2018-08-10), registration cancelled 2018-08-10, S/N 1068 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Grumman-Schweizer G-164A - Registry model: [Grumman Acft ENG Cor-Schweizer G-164A](https://openairdocs.org/model/grumman-acft-eng-cor-schweizer-g-164a) (registry code 3952801) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Pratt & Whitney R1340 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-r1340-series) (registry code 52016, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 1068 - Airframe hours: 4870 - Engines: P&W R-985-An-14B 450 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Aerial application, Part 137 - Registered owner: Cameron Aerial Application Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, December 27, 2000, 100 hours before - Departed: 4V9, NELIGH, NE ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 53; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review January 6, 2001; seat: center; flight hours: 6,120 total, 2,400 in this make and model, 6,047 as pilot in command, 120 in the last 90 days, 60 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 320° at 10 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 75 °F, dew point 54 °F - Altimeter: 30.09 inHg - Observed at: OFK ## 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 20010816025849A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20010816025849A), Aug 16, 2001: Scwzer G164A, Petersburg, NE, No damage. (-23) On August 16, 2001, at approximately 1600 CST, Grumman G-164A, N4598,registered to cameron aerial applications inc. performed an off airport landing. The… ## Other investigations on N4598 (2) 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 CEN09CA516](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN09CA516), Aug 10, 2009: Grumman Acft ENG Cor-Schweizer G-164A (N4598), Harlan, IA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to perform accurate weight and balance calculations which resulted in exceeding the maximum takeoff weight and the airplane's climb capability. - [NTSB FTW79DRG40](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW79DRG40), Jun 13, 1979: Grumman G-164A (N4598), Raymondville, TX, substantial damage 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.