# NTSB CHI98LA114: Grumman G-164A, N48FS, Benton, MO, April 4, 1998 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: April 4, 1998, 12:00 local (18:00 UTC) - Place: Benton, MO - Coordinates: 37.089462, -89.560539 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.0895&lon=-89.5605&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Standing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/150) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report December 8, 1998 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 10844 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI98LA114 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/10844/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI98LA114 ## Probable cause an engine fire for undetermined reasons. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Fire, standing - starting engine(s) - reason for occurrence undetermined - powerplant - fire ## Analysis The pilot reported that he started the airplane and moved it out onto the airstrip where it was to be loaded with fertilizer. After approximately two hours he attempted to restart the engine at which time it backfired and quit. He reported he waited 15 to 20 seconds, pumped the throttle three times and attempted to restart the engine. Smoke instantly started coming out of the exhaust stack. A ground loader got a fire extinguisher and fired it into the exhaust stack. The pilot stated he pulled the mixture back, opened the throttle and continued to crank the engine for three or four minutes hoping to suck the flames into the engine. He reported that after this time he was forced to leave the airplane due to the heavy smoke. The pilot reported the north winds blew the flames upward which ignited the top fuel tank. The airplane was destroyed by the fire. ## Factual narrative On April 4, 1998, at 1200 central standard time, a Grumman G- 164A, N48FS, operated by a commercial pilot, was destroyed by fire as the pilot was starting the engine. The accident occurred at a private airstrip in Benton, Missouri. The pilot was not injured. The aerial application flight was operating under 14 CFR Part 137. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. The pilot reported that he started the airplane and moved it out onto the airstrip where it was to be loaded with fertilizer. The engine was then shut down. It took approximately two hours for the proper loading truck to arrive and for the fertilizer to be loaded. The pilot stated he then returned to the airplane and attempted to start the engine at which time it backfired and quit. He reported he waited 15 to 20 seconds during which time he did not see any smoke so, he pumped the throttle three times and attempted to start the engine again. He reported that smoke instantly started coming out of the exhaust stack at which time the ground loader got a fire extinguisher and fired it into the exhaust stack. The pilot stated he pulled the mixture back, opened the throttle and continued to crank the engine for three or four minutes hoping to suck the flames into the engine. He reported that after this time he was forced to leave the airplane due to the heavy smoke. The pilot reported the winds were out of the north blowing the flames upward toward the top fuel tank which ignited. He reported that by time the fire department arrived the airplane was completed destroyed. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N48FS](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N48FS-2000-10-25), registration cancelled 2000-10-25, S/N 1660 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Grumman G-164A - Registry model: [Grumman Acft ENG Cor-Schweizer G-164A](https://openairdocs.org/model/grumman-acft-eng-cor-schweizer-g-164a) (registry code 3952801) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 1660 - Airframe hours: 6964 - Engines: P&W R1340 600 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Flight: Aerial application, Part 137 - Registered owner: Cecil T. Beeson - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, August 1, 1997, 60 hours before - Airport: PVT, Private Airstrip ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 58; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: center; flight hours: 18,510 total, 10,060 in this make and model, 60 in the last 90 days, 60 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 340° at 10 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 2,600 ft broken - Temperature: 46 °F, dew point 37 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: CGI, 13 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 19980404012639A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19980404012639A), Apr 4, 1998: Scwzer G164A, Benton, MO, Destroyed. (-23) Aircraft was hard starting. After several attempts, engine backfires and fire broke out. Pilot continued cranking engine and was unsuccessfull in putting… ## Other investigations on N48FS (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 CHI97LA178](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI97LA178), Jun 20, 1997: Grumman-Schweizer G-164A (N48FS), Benton, MO, substantial damage. Probable cause: the pilot's inadequate preflight by failing to insure that the secondary flight control lock was stowed properly, and subsequently the secondary flight control lock becoming engaged during the… 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.