# NTSB DFW05LA147: Grumman G-164B, N6832K, Lake Charles, LA, June 4, 2005 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: June 4, 2005, 14:40 local (19:40 UTC) - Place: Lake Charles, LA - Coordinates: 30.131944, -93.232498 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.1319&lon=-93.2325&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report October 27, 2005 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 61636 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DFW05LA147 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/61636/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DFW05LA147 ## Probable cause The failure of the propeller governor which resulted in a forced landing. A contributing factor was the transmission wire. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Airframe/component/system failure/malfunction, takeoff - initial climb - propeller system/accessories,governor - failure (cause) - Forced landing, emergency landing after takeoff - In flight collision with object, emergency landing after takeoff - object - wire,transmission (contributing factor) - In flight collision with terrain/water, emergency landing after takeoff - terrain condition - ground ## Analysis Following takeoff and after initiating a left turn to return to the field being sprayed, the 19,000 hour pilot reduced propeller RPM and the 2-bladed propeller "went to the full coarse setting and lost drive." During the forced landing the airplane struck a power line and subsequently impacted terrain. Examination of the propeller governor by a repair facility revealed that the "propeller governor pilot valve had failed, causing an internal oil leak, which resulted in the failure of the propeller governor. " ## Factual narrative On June 4, 2005, at 1440 central daylight time, a single-engine Grumman G-164B agricultural aircraft, N6832K, was substantially damaged during a forced landing following a loss of propeller drive during cruise flight near Lake Charles, Louisiana. The commercial pilot, sole occupant of the airplane, was not injured. The airplane was owned and operated by O'Brien Flying Service, Inc., of Iowa, Louisiana. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 137 aerial application flight. The flight originated from one of the operator's remote field strips near Iowa, Louisiana, at about 1400. The pilot reported to the operator that following takeoff, after initiating a left turn to return to the field being sprayed, the pilot reduced propeller RPM to a climb power setting when the pitch on the two bladed Hamilton Standard model 12D40-6101-12 propeller "went to the full coarse setting and lost drive." The 19,000-hour pilot initiated a forced landing to a clearing. During the forced landing the airplane struck a power line, before impacting a rice field. The operator reported that the 600-horsepower Pratt & Whitney R-1340-AN-1 radial engine had accumulated a total of 483 hours since its last overhaul, and the propeller had accumulated a total of 541 hours since its last overhaul. The last annual inspection was completed on January 5, 2005, approxiamately 366 hours prior to the accident. Oil was present in the crankcase, and no evidence of metal was found in suspension or in the oil filter. The propeller governor, a Hamilton Standard model 1M12G, serial number 121470, had accumulated a total of 753.91 hours since its last overhaul. The propeller governor was removed for further examination by Aircraft Accessories of Oklahoma Inc., of Tulsa, Oklahoma. In a telephone interview with a representative of the investigator-in-charge, a representative of Aircraft Accessories of Oklahoma stated, that the "propeller governor pilot valve had failed, causing an internal oil leak, which resulted in the failure of the propeller governor. " The left lower wing, left main landing gear assembly, and the vertical stabilizer sustained structural damage. There was no fire. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N6832K](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N6832K), registered now, S/N 502B, built 1978 (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: [Pratt & Whitney R1340 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-r1340-series) (registry code 52016, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 502B - Airframe hours: 9200.02 - Engines: Pratt & Whitney R-1340ANI 600 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Aerial application, Part 137 - Operator: O'Brien Flying Service, Inc. - Registered owner: O'Brien Flying Service - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, January 1, 2005, 366.06 hours before - Departed: LA71, Iowa, LA - Airport: LA71, O'Brian Flying Service Airport ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 60; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review March 1, 2004; seat: single; flight hours: 19,000 total, 10,000 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 220° at 8 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 90 °F, dew point 73 °F - Altimeter: 29.84 inHg ## 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 20050604010559A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20050604010559A), Jun 4, 2005: Scwzer G164B, Iowa, LA, Destroyed. (-23) During cruise flight aircraft lost power and contacted power lines. Pilot made force landing and impacted rice field. ## Other investigations on N6832K (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 FTW96LA205](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW96LA205), May 10, 1996: Grumman G-164B (N6832K), Iowa, LA, substantial damage. Probable cause: the pilot's selection of an unsuitable area for takeoff. The high vegetation (tall grass) was a related factor. 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.