# NTSB CHI02LA238: Schweizer G-164B, N8444K, Sturgis, MI, August 7, 2002 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 6, 2002, 20:37 local (Aug 7, 2002, 00:37 UTC) - Place: Sturgis, MI - Coordinates: 41.800792, -85.420646 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.8008&lon=-85.4206&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report December 6, 2002 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA-South Bend, Indiana-FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 55461 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI02LA238 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/55461/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI02LA238 ## Probable cause The failure of the turbine section of the engine, and the unsuitable terrain encountered for the forced landing. The low altitude was a factor. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power, maneuvering - aerial application - turbine assembly - failure,total (cause) - Forced landing, emergency descent/landing - Nose over, emergency descent/landing - altitude - low (contributing factor) - unsuitable terrain or takeoff/landing/taxi area - encountered (cause) ## Analysis The airplane was damaged when it nosed over during a forced landing in a soybean field following a loss of engine power while maneuvering. The airplane was involved in an aerial application flight. A postaccident examination of the airplane revealed that the turbine section of the engine had failed. ## Factual narrative On August 6, 2002, at 2037 eastern daylight time, a Schweizer G-164B, N8444K, piloted by a commercial pilot, sustained substantial damage when it nosed over during a forced landing following a loss of engine power while maneuvering 8 miles north of Sturgis, Michigan. The 14 CFR Part 137 aerial application flight was operating in visual meteorological conditions without a flight plan. The pilot, who was the sole occupant, was not injured. The local flight originated from the Wolfe Field Airport, Shipshewana, Indiana, at 1910. The airplane was being used to spray a cornfield near Sturgis, Michigan. Subsequent to the engine failure, a forced landing was executed in a soybean field adjacent to the field that was being sprayed. During the forced landing, the airplane nosed over. A postaccident examination of the airplane revealed that the turbine section of the engine had failed. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N8444K](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N8444K), registered now, S/N 716 B, built 1983 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Schweizer G-164B - Registry model: [Schweizer G-164B](https://openairdocs.org/model/schweizer-g-164b) (registry code 8059055) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Pratt & Whitney R1340 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-r1340-series) (registry code 52016, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 716B - Airframe hours: 6587 - Engines: Garrett TPE331-1-151A 665 horsepower turbo prop - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Aerial application, Part 137 - Registered owner: Lutes Flying Service Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special) - Last inspection: 100 hour, April 30, 2002, 282 hours before - Departed: IN65, Shipshewana, IN ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 35; injuries: none; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; last flight review March 18, 2002; seat: center; flight hours: 2,500 total, 1,500 in this make and model, 2,000 as pilot in command, 300 in the last 90 days, 100 in the last 30 days, 7 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 0° at 0 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 64 °F, dew point 55 °F - Altimeter: 30.22 inHg - Observed at: IRS ## 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 20020806021559A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20020806021559A), Aug 6, 2002: Scwzer G164B, Sturgis, MI, Substantial damage. (.19) On August 8, 2002, at 2037 eastern daylight time, a Schweizer G-164B, N8444K, piloted by a commercial pilot, sustained substantial damage when it nosed… ## Other investigations on N8444K (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 CHI85LA360](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI85LA360), Aug 29, 1985: Schweizer G164A "450" (N8444K), Constantine, MI, 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.