# NTSB ERA10CA240: Grumman G164, N654U, Hampton, GA, April 22, 2010 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: April 22, 2010, 18:40 local (22:40 UTC) - Place: Hampton, GA - Coordinates: 33.386665, -84.32611 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.3867&lon=-84.3261&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Approach-VFR go-around: Fuel exhaustion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report August 12, 2010 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 75836 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA10CA240 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/75836/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=75836 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA10CA240 ## Probable cause A total loss of engine power during a go-around due to fuel exhaustion as a result of the pilot's inadequate preflight planning. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Planning/preparation: fuel planning](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Grumman G-164, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030/cases.md?model=3952702), [All aircraft, 719 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030/cases.md) - [Fluids: fuel](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010): Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware · Fluid level (probable cause); cases with it: [Grumman G-164, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md?model=3952702), [All aircraft, 1,695 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Approach-VFR go-around: Fuel exhaustion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192) (defining event); cases with it: [Grumman G-164, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192/sequence.md?model=3952702), [All aircraft, 804 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192/sequence.md) - [Approach-VFR go-around: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341); cases with it: [Grumman G-164, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=3952702), [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md) - [Emergency descent: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Grumman G-164, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=3952702), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot stated that he departed on the 2.5-hour banner-tow flight with 3 hours of fuel on board. After completing the banner tow, he began the return flight to the airport and noticed that the fuel level was "lower than expected." The pilot attempted to conserve fuel by "slowing down and bringing the mixture back." After dropping the banner at the destination airport, the pilot applied full power to conduct a go-around and the engine lost power. The pilot attempted to land in the grass past the end of the runway, but had "too much momentum." The airplane traveled down an embankment, contacted a ditch, nosed over, and came to rest inverted. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures. The horizontal stabilizer and rudder sustained substantial damage. Postaccident inspection by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed that the fuel tanks contained a "very little trace" of fuel. ## Factual narrative The pilot stated that he departed on the 2.5-hour banner tow flight with 3 hours of fuel on board. After completing the banner tow, he began the return flight to the airport and noticed that the fuel level was "lower than expected." The pilot attempted to conserve fuel by "slowing down and bringing the mixture back." After dropping the banner at the destination airport, the pilot applied full power to conduct a go-around, and the engine "lost power." The pilot attempted to land in the grass past the end of the runway, but had "too much momentum." The airplane traveled down an embankment, contacted a ditch, nosed over, and came to rest inverted. The pilot reported there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures. The horizontal stabilizer and rudder sustained substantial damage. Postaccident inspection by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed that the fuel tanks contained a "very little trace" of fuel. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N654U](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N654U-2013-05-01), registration cancelled 2013-05-01, S/N 390, built 1966 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: GRUMMAN G164 (UNDESIGNAT) - Registry model: [Grumman G-164](https://openairdocs.org/model/grumman-g-164) (registry code 3952702) (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: 390 - Engines: Pratt & Whitney R-985 400 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Banner tow, Part 91 - Operator: Airsign Inc - Registered owner: Airsign Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special) - Last inspection: 100 hour, March 19, 2010 - Departed: 4A7, Hampton, GA - Destination: 4A7, Hampton, GA - Airport: 4A7, Tara Field, runway 24, 4,503 × 75 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 35; injuries: none; private, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review June 18, 2008; seat: single; flight hours: 1,524 total, 109 in this make and model, 1,498 as pilot in command, 164 in the last 90 days, 80 in the last 30 days, 6 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 200° at 4 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 75 °F, dew point 46 °F - Altimeter: 29.88 inHg - Observed at: FFC, 12 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 20100422032169A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20100422032169A), Apr 22, 2010: Grumman G-164, Hampton, GA, Substantial damage. On April 22, 2010 at 1930 I was notified by the regional operations center that a Grumman ag cat N654U had crashed at Clayton county airport Tara field (4A7).… ## Other investigations on N654U (2) 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 SEA70D0048](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA70D0048), Aug 9, 1969: Grumman G-164A (N654U), Twin Falls, ID, substantial damage - [NTSB SEA68D0086](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA68D0086), Aug 25, 1967: Grumman G-164 (N654U), Jerome, ID, substantial damage ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 10, 2010, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=75836. 652 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 628 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40329601&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - FAA Inspector Statement (item 2, .PDF, 24 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40330125&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=FAA%20Inspector%20Statement-Redacted.PDF 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.