# NTSB CHI96LA186: Grumman-Schweizer G-164B, N48518, Crookston, MN, May 25, 1996 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: May 25, 1996, 08:30 local (13:30 UTC) - Place: Crookston, MN - Coordinates: 47.769977, -96.59938 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=47.7700&lon=-96.5994&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report May 23, 1997 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 10265 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI96LA186 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/10265/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI96LA186 ## Probable cause catastrophic engine failure. ## 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 - cracked (cause) - engine assembly,master rod - failure (cause) - fluid,oil - starvation (cause) - Forced landing, emergency descent/landing - Nose over, landing - roll - terrain condition - soft ## Analysis The pilot reported that he was at 200 feet turning for a spray run and the engine began 'running very rough, some smoke and oil noticed.' He conducted a forced landing in an 'open, rough field which had recently been saturated with heavy rain fall. Upon touch down, the main wheels began sinking in the mud and caused the aircraft to slowly flip forward....' The owner of the airplane reported that the engine was properly serviced prior to flight. Examination of the engine revealed five cracked cylinders and a master rod failure. The chief inspector of the FAA approved overhaul facility that examined the engine reported that 'the damage found during disassembly was typical of other engines known to have been oil starved during operation. The cause of oil starvation in this engine is unknown.' ## Factual narrative On May 25, 1996, at 0830 central daylight time, a Grumman G-164-B airplane, N48518, operated by Gasper Airspray, Inc., sustained substantial damage when it nosed over during a forced landing, following a total loss of engine power, near Crookston, Minnesota. The solo commercial pilot reported no injuries. The aerial application flight originated about 0800 and was conducted under 14 CFR Part 137. A flight plan was not filed for the local flight and visual meteorological conditions prevailed. The pilot reported that he was at 200 feet turning for a spray run and the engine began "running very rough, some smoke and oil noticed." He conducted a forced landing in an "open, rough field which had recently been saturated with heavy rain fall. Upon touch down, the main wheels began sinking in the mud and caused the aircraft to slowly flip forward...." The Federal Aviation Administration Inspector who examined the airplane reported that it was moved prior to his arrival at the accident site. He reported that the engine had failed catastrophically. He observed five cracked cylinders and suspected a master rod failure. The owner of the airplane reported that the engine had been run about 100 hours since overhaul. He said that there was oil on the ground in the vicinity of the accident site and that he was confident the engine was properly serviced with oil prior to the flight. He reported that examination of the propeller governor was conducted by an FAA approved repair station which reported the governor was servicable. The engine was examined by an FAA approved engine overhaul facility. The chief inspector reported that "master rod bearing failure typical of oil starvation had occurred.... The damage found during disassembly was typical of other engines known to have been oil starved during operation. The cause of oil starvation in this engine is unknown." ## Aircraft - Registration: [N48518](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N48518), registered now, S/N 61B (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: 61B - Airframe hours: 5400 - Engines: P&W R-1340 600 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Aerial application, Part 137 - Registered owner: Gasper Airspray - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, May 18, 1996, 28 hours before ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 46; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: front; flight hours: 8,737 total, 6,000 in this make and model, 8,555 as pilot in command, 38 in the last 90 days, 38 in the last 30 days, 8 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 61 °F ## 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 19960525012649A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19960525012649A), May 25, 1996: Scwzer G164B, Angus, MN, Substantial damage. Engine quit on spray run. Nosed over landing in soft wet field. (-23) at approximately 0830 on may 25, 1996 (sat), during aerial application, at an altitude of… ## Other investigations on N48518 (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 CHI93LA254](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI93LA254), Jul 13, 1993: Grumman G164B (N48518), Eldred, MN, substantial damage. Probable cause: the pilot's failure to maintain directional control during the takeoff roll. 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.