# NTSB CHI08CA242: Schweizer G-164A, N73PB, Jefferson, IA, August 8, 2008 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: August 7, 2008, 20:05 local (Aug 8, 2008, 01:05 UTC) - Place: Jefferson, IA - Coordinates: 42.010276, -94.342498 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.0103&lon=-94.3425&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Approach-VFR pattern downwind: 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: Des Moines, IA - NTSB case key (mKey): 68899 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI08CA242 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/68899/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI08CA242 ## Probable cause The loss of engine power for an undetermined reason and the unsuitable terrain encountered during the forced landing. The corn crop was a factor. ## 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 G-164A, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md?model=3952704), [All aircraft, 2,247 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md) - [Terrain: rough terrain](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021015): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome (probable cause); cases with it: [Grumman G-164A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021015/cases.md?model=3952704), [All aircraft, 442 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021015/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Approach-VFR pattern downwind: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) (defining event); cases with it: [Grumman G-164A, 11 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=3952704), [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 G-164A, 12 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=3952704), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md) - [Landing: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Grumman G-164A, 9 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=3952704), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that the airplane's engine lost power and began shaking violently as the airplane was approximately mid-field downwind for landing. He stated that he had insufficient altitude to execute a power-off landing to the runway and elected to land the airplane in a farm field. He said that he flared the airplane and as the airplane settled into the corn, he applied full aft elevator but the airplane pitched nose down and flipped onto its back. He stated that he had performed a pre-flight engine run-up before the accident. He made no mention of any discrepancies noted during the run-up, takeoff, or initial climb out. ## Factual narrative The pilot reported that the airplane's engine lost power and began shaking violently as the airplane was approximately mid-field downwind for landing. He stated that he had insufficient altitude to execute a power-off landing to the runway and elected to land the airplane in a farm field. He said that he flared the airplane and as the airplane settled into the corn, he applied full aft elevator but the airplane pitched nose down and flipped onto its back. He stated that he had performed a pre-flight engine run-up before the accident. He made no mention of any discrepancies noted during the run-up, takeoff, or initial climb out. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N73PB](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N73PB-2013-05-07), registration cancelled 2013-05-07, S/N 1118 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Schweizer G-164A - Registry model: [Grumman G-164A](https://openairdocs.org/model/grumman-g-164a) (registry code 3952704) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Pratt & Whitney R1340 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-r1340-series) (registry code 52016, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 1118 - Airframe hours: 6000 - Engines: Pratt & Whitney R-985-14B 450 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Other work use, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, February 1, 2008 - Departed: EFW, Jefferson, IA ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 51; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: helicopter, airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review November 1, 2006; seat: center; flight hours: 10,900 total, 72 in this make and model, 10,700 as pilot in command, 72 in the last 90 days, 72 in the last 30 days, 8 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day ## 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 20080807844779A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20080807844779A), Aug 7, 2008: Scwzer G164A, Jefferson, IA, Substantial damage. (-23) Pilot was performing post maintenance flight and was on downwind leg of runway 32 at the Jefferson Municipal Airport, Jefferson, IA (efw) when engine… ## Other investigations on N73PB (3) 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 FTW01LA209](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW01LA209), Sep 19, 2001: Grumman G-164A (N73PB), Eagle Lake, TX, destroyed. Probable cause: the partial loss of engine power for an undetermined reason, which resulted in an in flight collision with trees and terrain. - [NTSB FTW99LA157](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW99LA157), Jun 2, 1999: Grumman G-164A (N73PB), Monaville, TX, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to touch down on the dry area of the landing strip. A factor was the soft terrain condition on the sides of the grass strip. - [NTSB LAX77FUJ44](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX77FUJ44), Apr 21, 1977: Grumman G-164A (N73PB), Queen Creek, AZ, 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.