# NTSB ERA11LA290: Grumman G-164A, N896X, Albion, NY, April 29, 2011 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: April 29, 2011, 18:40 local (22:40 UTC) - Place: Albion, NY - Coordinates: 43.202777, -78.255279 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.2028&lon=-78.2553&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report November 5, 2012 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 79054 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA11LA290 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/79054/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=79054 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA11LA290 ## Probable cause A bearing failure in the engine’s supercharger section, which resulted in a total loss of engine power during flight. Contributing to the accident was the soft soil of the forced landing site. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Engine (reciprocating): recip eng supercharger](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058560): Aircraft › Aircraft power plant · Failure (probable cause); cases with it: [Grumman G-164A, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058560/cases.md?model=3952704), [All aircraft, 12 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058560/cases.md) - [Runway/land/takeoff/taxi surface: soft surface](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023020): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome (probable cause); cases with it: [Grumman G-164A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023020/cases.md?model=3952704), [All aircraft, 264 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023020/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) (defining event); cases with it: [Grumman G-164A, 11 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=3952704), [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md) - [Emergency descent: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440); cases with it: [Grumman G-164A, 12 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=3952704), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096); cases with it: [Grumman G-164A, 11 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md?model=3952704), [All aircraft, 2,287 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md) ## Analysis The airplane sustained a total loss of engine power during the aerial application flight. The pilot maneuvered the airplane to a nearby dirt field and conducted a forced landing. Before the airplane came to a full stop it nosed over in the soft soil, damaging the left wing and vertical section of the airplane. The engine was partially disassembled by the pilot/owner. Two bearings in the collector section of the supercharger were damaged and seized, and bearing debris was observed in the collector area. Once the collector was disconnected from the engine, the crankshaft and piston moved freely. A review of the maintenance logbooks revealed no recent repairs related to the bearing failure. ## Factual narrative On April 29, 2011, about 1840 eastern daylight time, a Grumman G-164A, N896X, nosed over during a forced landing onto an open field in Albion, New York. The certificated commercial pilot was uninjured and the airplane incurred substantial damage. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed for the agricultural, aerial application flight, which was conducted under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 137. The flight originated from the pilot/owner’s private property about 1600. The responding Federal Aviation Administrator (FAA) inspector stated that the pilot informed the Orleans County Sheriff Office representative that he was on the last application for the day when the engine “failed” (stopped producing power). The pilot elected to land in a nearby dirt field. The airplane’s main wheels sunk into the soft soil as lift depleted, which caused the airplane to nose over before coming to a complete stop. The airplane’s empennage and top wing spar incurred substantial damage. The propeller would not rotate when turned by hand and no external engine damage was observed. The pilot held a commercial pilot certificate with a single and multi-engine land, an instrument rating, and an airframe and powerplant mechanic’s certificate with an inspection authorization. He was issued a FAA second class medical certificate on March 3, 2011, with limitations. At that time, he reported a total of 15,000 civilian flight hours. The airplane was powered by a Pratt & Whitney R-985-AN-14B engine. The nine-cylinder, air cooled, supercharged, radial engine was rated at 450 horsepower at 2,300 rpm. The engine was partially disassembled by the pilot/owner. Two bearings in the collector, a section of the supercharger, were observed damaged, seized, and bearing debris were observed in the collector area. Once the collector was disconnected from the engine, the crankshaft and pistons moved freely. A review of the airplane’s engine maintenance records showed, at the time of the accident, the engine had a total of 1,131 hours since major overhaul, which was performed on September 4, 1992, at an unknown total time in service. The supercharger section was inspected and repaired on March 20, 2002, due to high engine oil consumption. The last inspection to the engine was performed on April 19, 2011, with a 1,121 hours total time since major overhaul. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N896X](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N896X), registered now, S/N 451, built 1967 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: GRUMMAN G-164A - Registry model: [Grumman G-164A](https://openairdocs.org/model/grumman-g-164a) (registry code 3952704) (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: 451 - Airframe hours: 16683 - Engines: P&W R-985 SERIES 450 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Aerial application, Part 137 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special) - Last inspection: 100 hour, April 19, 2011, 68 hours before - Departed: 9G6, Albion, NY - Destination: 9G6, Albion, NY ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 64; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review March 17, 2010; seat: front; flight hours: 16,000 total, 14,500 in this make and model, 16,000 as pilot in command, 12 in the last 90 days, 10 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 240° at 6 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 4,600 ft overcast - Temperature: 41 °F, dew point 37 °F - Altimeter: 29.94 inHg - Observed at: KBUF, 30 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 20110429012189A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20110429012189A), Apr 29, 2011: Grumman G-164A, Barre, NY, Minor damage. On Friday April 29, 2011 at about 1840 local time this 14 CFR 137 operator had completed spraying a field and was making his dry out run when the engine… ## Docket (7 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on July 18, 2012, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=79054. 3.6 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 982 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40364291&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Reports from Local Agencies: Police Report. (item 2, .PDF, 232 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40364292&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Reports%20from%20Local%20Agencies%3A%20Police%20Report.-Redacted.PDF - Reports from Federal Agencies: Federal Aviation Inspector's Statement. (item 3, .PDF, 89 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40364293&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Reports%20from%20Federal%20Agencies%3A%20Federal%20Aviation%20Inspector%27s%20Statement.-Redacted.PDF - Miscellaneous: Parts Catalog, Assembly Parts List for the Collector Case and Intake Pipes; Supercharge Section. (item 4, .PDF, 387 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40364294&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Miscellaneous%3A%20Parts%20Catalog,%20Assembly%20Parts%20List%20for%20the%20Collector%20Case%20and%20Intake%20Pipes;%20Supercharge%20Section.-Master.PDF - Miscellaneous: Excerpts From the Airplane's Engine Maintenance Records. (item 5, .PDF, 1.7 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40364295&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Miscellaneous%3A%20Excerpts%20From%20the%20Airplane%27s%20Engine%20Maintenance%20Records.-Redacted.PDF - Photo 1) View of the Airplane in the Open Field Upside Down. Photo Provided by the Federal Aviation Administration. (item 6, .PDF, 150 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40364296&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201)%20View%20of%20the%20Airplane%20in%20the%20Open%20Field%20Upside%20Down.%20Photo%20Provided%20by%20the%20Federal%20Aviation%20Administration.-Master.PDF - Photo 2) Close up View of the Left Upper Wing Damage. Photo Provided by The Federal Aviation Administration. (item 7, .PDF, 139 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40364297&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%202)%20Close%20up%20View%20of%20the%20Left%20Upper%20Wing%20Damage.%20Photo%20Provided%20by%20The%20Federal%20Aviation%20Administration.-Master.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.