# NTSB CHI99LA183: Grumman American G-164B, N6515K, Goodland, KS, June 11, 1999 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: June 11, 1999, 16:30 local (21:30 UTC) - Place: Goodland, KS - Coordinates: 39.339492, -101.70095 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.3395&lon=-101.7010&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report November 30, 2000 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 46548 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI99LA183 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/46548/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI99LA183 ## Probable cause the fracture of the rocker arm bolt. Contributing factors were the pilot's low altitude and the crops. ## 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,rocker arm/tappet - fractured (cause) - Forced landing, emergency descent/landing - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, emergency landing - altitude - low, pilot in command (contributing factor) - terrain condition - crop (contributing factor) ## Analysis The pilot stated that while spraying a corn field, he had exited the field, began to pull up and turn to the east when he noticed a vibration. He stated that he continued the maneuver during which he saw oil from the number eight cylinder leaking onto the exhaust of the engine. He added that at 3/4 through the turn, the engine's rocker arm shaft began to 'work its way out'. He stated the engine was not developing power, so he elected to land on a north-south access road that was approximately 15 feet in width; the sides of which were elevated approximately 2 feet in height. He reported that during the landing attempt, the aircraft's left wing impacted the wheat, the aircraft rotated 180 degrees and the right landing gear separated from the aircraft. The aircraft continued in a rearward direction into the wheat field. The pilot reported that there was an inch of rainfall the previous day. The rocker arm bolt was fractured at the location of a cotter pin hole. ## Factual narrative On June 11, 1999, at 1630 central daylight time, a Grumman American G-164B, N6515, owned and piloted by a commercial pilot, received substantial damage on impact with terrain during a forced landing onto a dirt access road located between a corn field and a wheat field approximately 11 miles northeast of Goodland, Kansas. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The 14 CFR Part 137 aerial application flight was not operating on a flight plan. The pilot reported no injuries. The flight originated Renner Field, Goodland, Kansas, at approximately 1530. The pilot stated that while spraying a corn field, he had exited the field, began to pull up and turn to the east when he noticed a vibration. He stated that he continued the maneuver during which he saw oil from the number eight cylinder leaking onto the exhaust of the engine. He added that at 3/4 through the turn, the engine's rocker arm shaft began to "work its way out". He stated the engine was not developing power, so he elected to land on a north-south access road that was approximately 15 feet in width; the sides of which were elevated approximately 2 feet in height. He reported that during the landing attempt, the aircraft's left wing impacted the wheat, the aircraft rotated 180 degrees and the right landing gear separated from the aircraft. The aircraft continued in a rearward direction into the wheat field. The pilot reported that there was an inch of rainfall the previous day. The rocker arm bolt was fractured at the location of a cotter pin hole. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N6515K](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N6515K-2013-09-20), registration cancelled 2013-09-20, S/N 350B (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Grumman American G-164B - Registry model: [Grumman American Avn. G-164B](https://openairdocs.org/model/grumman-american-avn-g-164b) (registry code 3960204) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 350B - Airframe hours: 3155 - Engines: P&W R1340 600 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Aerial application, Part 137 - Registered owner: Mark Bantam - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, March 16, 1999, 90 hours before - Departed: GLD ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 40; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: center; flight hours: 765 total, 318 in this make and model, 765 as pilot in command, 100 in the last 90 days, 60 in the last 30 days, 8 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 40° at 6 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 6,000 ft broken - Temperature: 70 °F, dew point 55 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: GLD, 26 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 19990611006939A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19990611006939A), Jun 11, 1999: Scwzer G164B, Goodland, KS, Substantial damage. Acft rocker-arm pin broke, and the engine quit, the acft landed on a road, but the left wing caught in some wheat and spun the acft around, other circumstances… ## Other investigations on N6515K (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 CHI80DER62](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI80DER62), Aug 1, 1980: Grumman G-164B (N6515K), E.Grand Forks, MN, destroyed 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.