# NTSB CHI99LA162: Grumman-Schweizer G-164B, N6524K, Buxton, ND, May 25, 1999 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: May 25, 1999, 18:30 local (23:30 UTC) - Place: Buxton, ND - Coordinates: 47.600109, -97.090408 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=47.6001&lon=-97.0904&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report June 22, 2000 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 46409 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI99LA162 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/46409/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI99LA162 ## Probable cause the number one cylinder's separation, the pilot's visual lookout not possible through the oil given off by the number one cylinder, and the embankment. A factor in the accident was the oil. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(partial) - mech failure/malf, cruise - engine assembly,cylinder - separation (cause) - Forced landing, descent - emergency - fluid,oil - other (contributing factor) - visual lookout - not possible, pilot in command (cause) - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, emergency landing - terrain condition - drop-off/descending embankment (cause) ## Analysis The pilot said the engine began to run rough during cruise. Then the engine blew smoke and oil and the windshield became covered with oil. The pilot turned the airplane towards the airport. On the approach to runway 09, the pilot had no visibility through the oil and the airplane had run off a road leading to the runway's centerline and an embankment in the safety area before the approach end of runway 09 during his forced landing. The airplane came to rest inverted next to the embankment. The number one cylinder head was found separated from its cylinder and was inspected. The inspection revealed no indications of preexisting cracks in the cylinder head. The separation occurred in the combustion dome between the cylinder head and the screw on cylinder barrel. The cylinder head revealed marks and dents consistent with piston ring or piston crown contact. ## Factual narrative On May 25, 1999, at 1830 central daylight time, a Grumman-Schweizer G-164B, N6524K, piloted by a commercial pilot, received substantial damage on impact with terrain during a forced landing attempt on runway 09 (2,000 feet by 20 feet, asphalt) at Central Valley Aviation Airport, near Buxton, North Dakota. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The aerial application flight was conducted under 14 CFR Part 137. The pilot reported no injuries. No flight plan was on file. The local flight originated from Central Valley Aviation Airport at 1815. In his written statement, the pilot said that the engine began to run rough during a cruise segment between the fields he was spraying. He stated that the engine blew smoke and oil and that the windshield became covered with oil. He stated he turned the airplane towards Central Valley Aviation Airport. He said that on his approach to runway 09, he had no visibility through the oil during his forced landing. He stated that the airplane touched down prior to the runway on a road leading to and aligned with the centerline of runway 09. He said that the airplane had run off that road and a bridge embankment in the safety area before the approach end of runway 09. The airplane came to rest inverted next to the embankment. The pilot reported that the airplane's last inspection was an annual inspection on May 1, 1999. He said that the time since last overhaul on the engine was 1,103 hours and the time since last inspection was 50 hours. The number one cylinder head was found separated from its cylinder and was inspected by the National Transportation Safety Board's materials laboratory. The inspection revealed no indications of preexisting cracks in the cylinder head. The separation occurred in the combustion dome between the cylinder head and the screw on cylinder barrel. The cylinder head revealed marks and dents consistent with piston ring or piston crown contact. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N6524K](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N6524K), registered now, S/N 352B, built 1977 (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: 352B - Airframe hours: 4994 - Engines: P&W R-1340 600 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Aerial application, Part 137 - Operator: Central Valley Aviation - Registered owner: Four J'S Corporation - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, May 1, 1999, 50 hours before - Departed: NA18 - Airport: NA81, Central Valley Aviation, runway 9, 2,000 × 20 ft, asphalt ## 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: 16,500 total, 9,000 in this make and model, 16,500 as pilot in command, 60 in the last 90 days, 60 in the last 30 days, 8 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 340° at 6 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 70 °F, dew point 36 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: GFK, 10 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 19990525046149A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19990525046149A), May 25, 1999: Scwzer G164B, Buxton, ND, No damage. (-23) On March 25, 1999, at 1830 CDT, a Grumman G-164-B, N6524K, operated by central valley aviation sustained substantial damage when attempting to make an… 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.