# NTSB CHI02LA132: Grumman-Schweizer G-164B, N48485, Hordville, NE, May 10, 2002 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: May 9, 2002, 19:55 local (May 10, 2002, 00:55 UTC) - Place: Hordville, NE - Coordinates: 41.070602, -97.890663 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.0706&lon=-97.8907&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report October 24, 2002 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA Lincold, Nebraska FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 54696 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI02LA132 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/54696/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=54696 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI02LA132 ## Probable cause A loss of engine power due to a fractured rocker arm shaf. Contributing to the accident was the soft, furrowed field. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power, maneuvering - aerial application - engine assembly,rocker arm/tappet - fractured (cause) - Forced landing, emergency descent/landing - Nose over, emergency descent/landing - terrain condition - plowed/furrowed (contributing factor) - unsuitable terrain or takeoff/landing/taxi area - encountered, pilot in command (cause) - terrain condition - soft (contributing factor) - altitude - low (contributing factor) ## Analysis The airplane nosed over during a forced landing in a soft, furrowed field following a total loss of engine power. A rocker arm shaft for one of the exhaust valves was found to have split. No other anomalies were found with respect to the airframe, engine or systems that could be identified as existing prior to impact. ## Factual narrative On May 9, 2002, about 1955 central daylight time, a Grumman-Schweizer G-164B, N48485, piloted by a commercial pilot, sustained substantial damage when it nosed over during a forced landing following a loss of engine power while maneuvering near Hordville, Nebraska. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The aerial application flight was operated under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 137 and was not on a flight plan. The pilot was not injured. The local flight originated from the Knox Landing Airport, York, Nebraska at 1900. The airplane suffered a total loss of engine power while climbing from a low altitude application of herbicide. The pilot stated that he, "...pushed mixture rich and added power. I checked the mags and started looking for a landing site. I landed in a disked field 1/2 mile southeast of the field I was spraying. The aircraft rolled in a 3 point attitude for 300 feet. The wheels sank in the soft dirt and flipped the aircraft over." Upon inspection of the engine, a rocker arm shaft on one of the exhaust valves was found to have split. No other anomalies were found with respect to the airframe, engine, or systems that could be identified as existing prior to impact. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N48485](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N48485-2025-06-13), registration cancelled 2025-06-13, S/N 44B, built 1976 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Grumman-Schweizer G-164B - Registry model: [Grumman Acft ENG Cor-Schweizer G-164B](https://openairdocs.org/model/grumman-acft-eng-cor-schweizer-g-164b) (registry code 3952802) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Pratt & Whitney R-985 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-r-985-series) (registry code 52008, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 44B - Airframe hours: 5743.2 - Engines: Pratt & Whitney R-1340-S3H1-G 600 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Aerial application, Part 137 - Operator: Ag Flight Inc - Registered owner: AG Flight Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, June 1, 2001, 185 hours before - Departed: 87NE, YORK, NE - Destination: 87NE ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 34; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review January 19, 2002; seat: center; flight hours: 7,000 total, 5,000 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 340° at 3 knots, gusting 7 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 55 °F, dew point 21 °F - Altimeter: 30.13 inHg - Observed at: AUH ## 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 20020509010089A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20020509010089A), May 9, 2002: Scwzer G164B, Hordville, NE, No damage. (-23) During low level spray application, the pratt & whitney R-1340-S3H1-18 engine lost all power. An emergency landing was attempted in a plowed, wet field.… ## Other investigations on N48485 (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 CEN23LA232](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN23LA232), Jun 7, 2023: Grumman Acft ENG Cor-Schweizer G-164B (N48485), Bloomfield, NE, substantial damage. Probable cause: A partial loss of engine power during takeoff for reasons that could not be determined. ## Docket (1 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on September 17, 2002, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=54696. 351 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 351 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40436584&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.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.