# NTSB CHI08CA240: Grumman-Schweizer G-164B, N48412, Salem, IA, August 7, 2008 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: August 6, 2008, 20:10 local (Aug 7, 2008, 01:10 UTC) - Place: Salem, IA - Coordinates: 40.850891, -91.620193 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.8509&lon=-91.6202&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report September 26, 2008 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - Des Moines FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 68793 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI08CA240 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/68793/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI08CA240 ## Probable cause The loss of engine power for an undetermined reason. Contributing to the accident was the high grass encountered during the landing roll. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [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-164B, 11 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md?model=3952802), [All aircraft, 2,247 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md) - [Terrain](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021000): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome (probable cause); cases with it: [Grumman Acft ENG Cor-Schweizer G-164B, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021000/cases.md?model=3952802), [All aircraft, 267 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021000/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) (defining event); cases with it: [Grumman Acft ENG Cor-Schweizer G-164B, 13 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=3952802), [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md) - [Emergency descent: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440); cases with it: [Grumman Acft ENG Cor-Schweizer G-164B, 17 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=3952802), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096); cases with it: [Grumman Acft ENG Cor-Schweizer G-164B, 19 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md?model=3952802), [All aircraft, 2,287 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md) ## Analysis The accident occurred during an aerial application flight. The pilot reported that during a course reversal the engine "felt" as if it had no power. He referenced his engine instruments and noted no anomalies. He assumed that the airplane had encountered an area of disturbed air, and elected to continue onto the next spray run. During the next course reversal, the engine started "popping" like an engine misfire. The engine instruments were referenced again, and no anomalies were noted. The pilot switched magnetos, verified that the mixture was full rich, and selected a full low pitch propeller setting. Despite the pilot's corrective actions, there was no change in engine performance. The pilot performed a three-point landing in a nearby grass field, and the airplane nosed-over during the landing roll when it encountered tall grass. The pilot had flown over 10 hours on the day of the accident without any engine discrepancies. The airplane had departed approximately 40 minutes before the accident with 35 gallons of fuel on board. A postaccident engine examination failed to identify the cause of the engine power loss. ## Factual narrative The accident occurred during an aerial application flight. The pilot reported that during a course reversal the engine "felt" as if it had no power. He referenced his engine instruments and noted no anomalies. He assumed that the airplane had encountered an area of disturbed air, and elected to continue onto the next spray run. During the next course reversal, the engine started "popping" like an engine misfire. The engine instruments were referenced again and no anomalies were noted. The pilot switched magnetos, verified that the mixture was full rich, and selected a full low pitch propeller setting. Despite the pilot's corrective actions, there was no change in engine performance. The pilot performed a three-point landing in a nearby grass field, and the airplane nosed-over during the landing roll when it encountered tall grass. The pilot had flown over 10 hours on the day of the accident without any engine discrepancies. The airplane had departed approximately 40 minutes before the accident with 35 gallons of fuel on board. A post accident engine examination failed to identify the cause of the engine power loss. There was compression on all cylinders as the propeller was rotated. Both magnetos provided spark on all leads when rotated by hand. There were no obstructions to the air induction system. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N48412](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N48412-2014-10-22), registration cancelled 2014-10-22, S/N 15B, 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: [Amateur-built UNKNOWN ENG](https://openairdocs.org/engine/amateur-built-unknown-eng) (registry code 99999) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 15B - Airframe hours: 6501 - Engines: Pratt & Whitney R-985-AN-14B 450 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Aerial application, Part 137 - Registered owner: Air Advantage, Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, November 1, 2007 - Departed: MPZ, Mount Pleasant, IA - Destination: MPZ, Mount Pleasant, IA ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 38; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine sea, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review April 1, 2008; seat: single; flight hours: 6,134 total, 1,532 in this make and model, 6,115 as pilot in command, 306 in the last 90 days, 258 in the last 30 days, 11 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Dusk - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Temperature: 77 °F, dew point 66 °F - Altimeter: 30.05 inHg - Observed at: MPZ, 9 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 (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20080806844609A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20080806844609A), Aug 6, 2008: Scwzer G164B, Salem, IA, Substantial damage. (-23) The accident occured when the aircraft landed in a farm field due to the loss of engine power. The aircraft was slowing down in the field and nosed over,… 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.