# NTSB DEN06CA081: Grumman G-164B, N14RY, Dighton, KS, June 1, 2006

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: June 1, 2006, 17:00 local (22:00 UTC)
- Place: Dighton, KS
- Coordinates: 38.479297, -100.459259 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.4793&lon=-100.4593&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 1 minor
- Status: Completed, report October 3, 2006
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 63817
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN06CA081
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/63817/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN06CA081

## Probable cause

The broken rocker arm boss causing the number 1 cylinder exhaust valve to stay closed and subsequently the engine failed.  A factor contributing to the accident was the soft field the airplane set down in.

## 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, takeoff - initial climb
  - engine assembly,rocker arm/tappet - fractured (cause)
  - engine assembly,valve,exhaust - closed (contributing factor)
- Forced landing, emergency landing after takeoff
- Nose over, emergency landing
  - terrain condition - open field
  - terrain condition - wet
  - terrain condition - soft (contributing factor)

## Analysis

The airplane was taking off on an aerial application flight.  Shortly after lifting off, the airplane's engine lost power.  The commercial pilot set the airplane down on the runway toward the departure end.  The airplane went off the end of the runway and into a wheat field.  The airplane's main gear tires sank into the soft wet soil and the airplane subsequently nosed over causing the engine to fracture and separate from the fuselage and crushing the vertical stabilizer and rudder downward.  The pilot sustained minor injuries.  Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident.  An examination of the airplane's engine revealed that the rocker arm boss on the number 1 cylinder had fractured leaving the exhaust valve on the cylinder closed and resulting in the subsequent engine failure.

## Factual narrative

The airplane was taking off on an aerial application flight.  Shortly after lifting off, the airplane's engine lost power.  The commercial pilot set the airplane down on the runway toward the departure end.  The airplane went off the end of the runway and into a wheat field.  The airplane's main gear tires sank into the soft wet soil and the airplane subsequently nosed over causing the engine to fracture and separate from the fuselage and crushing the vertical stabilizer and rudder downward.  The pilot sustained minor injuries.  Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident.  An examination of the airplane's engine revealed that the rocker arm boss on the number 1 cylinder had fractured leaving the exhaust valve on the cylinder closed.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N14RY](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N14RY-2016-09-15), registration cancelled 2016-09-15, S/N 271B, built 1977 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Grumman 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: [Continental R-975 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-r-975-series) (registry code 17037, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 271B
- Engines: Continental R-975 reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Aerial application, Part 137
- Registered owner: Root Spraying, Service
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special)
- Departed: K65, Dighton, KS

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 29; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2; flight hours: 7,206 total, 3,500 in this make and model, 28 in the last 90 days

## 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 20060601013309A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20060601013309A), Jun 1, 2006: Scwzer G164B, Dighton, KS, Substantial damage. (-23) The commercial aerial applicator was lifting off just past mid-field from runway 35 at his home base airport when the engine sputtered twice and quit.…

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.

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