# NTSB FTW00LA098: Grumman G-164A, N6637, Garwood, TX, March 13, 2000 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: March 13, 2000, 15:30 local (21:30 UTC) - Place: Garwood, TX - Coordinates: 29.450437, -96.510612 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.4504&lon=-96.5106&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report November 29, 2000 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 48792 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW00LA098 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/48792/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW00LA098 ## Probable cause The failure of the left magneto, which resulted in the partial loss of engine power during takeoff. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(partial) - mech failure/malf, takeoff - roll/run - ignition system,magneto - failure (cause) - On ground/water collision with object, takeoff - aborted - object - fence - terrain condition - ditch ## Analysis During the takeoff roll, approximately 3/4 of the way down the length of the runway, the agricultural airplane's engine lost partial power. The pilot stated that 'the engine kept cutting in and out.' He elected to abort the takeoff; however, he could not stop the airplane prior to the end of the runway. The airplane rolled through a fence and came to rest on its nose in a ditch. A post-accident engine run revealed that the engine operated normally on the right magneto; however, the engine would not operate with the left magneto selected. ## Factual narrative On March 13, 2000, at 1530 central standard time, a Grumman G-164A agricultural airplane, N6637, was substantially damaged when it impacted a fence during an aborted takeoff from a private grass airstrip near Garwood, Texas. The airplane was registered to and operated by Aero Ag Services, Inc., of Garwood. The commercial pilot, sole occupant, was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and a flight plan was not filed for the 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 137 aerial application flight. The local flight was originating at the time of the accident. During a telephone interview, conducted by the NTSB investigator-in-charge, the pilot stated that this was his 15th application load of the day. During the takeoff roll, approximately 3/4 of the way down the runway, the engine lost power. The pilot stated that "the engine kept cutting in and out." He elected to abort the takeoff; however, he could not stop the airplane prior to the end of the runway. The airplane rolled through a fence and came to rest on its nose in a ditch. The pilot and the FAA inspector, who visited the accident site, started the engine and conducted a magneto check. The engine operated "normally" on the right magneto; however, the engine would not operate with the left magneto selected. The FAA inspector stated that both of the bottom wing spars were structurally damaged. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N6637](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N6637-2021-05-08), registration cancelled 2021-05-08, S/N 766, built 1970 (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-AN-1](https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-r-985-an-1) (registry code 51659, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 766 - Airframe hours: 11200 - Engines: P&W R-1340 600 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Aerial application, Part 137 - Registered owner: Aero Ag Services, Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, March 2, 2000, 20 hours before - Departed: NONE - Airport: NONE, Private Airstrip ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 45; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: center; flight hours: 15,000 total, 14,500 in this make and model, 50 in the last 90 days, 30 in the last 30 days, 6 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 180° at 10 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Temperature: 75 °F ## 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 20000313014479A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20000313014479A), Mar 13, 2000: Scwzer G164A, Garwood, TX, Substantial damage. (.4) During the takeoff roll, approximately 3/4 of the way down the length of the runway, the agricultural airplane's engine lost partial power. The pilot… ## Other investigations on N6637 (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 CEN18LA152](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN18LA152), Apr 27, 2018: Grumman G 164A (N6637), Garwood, TX, substantial damage. Probable cause: A partial loss of engine power for reasons that could not be determined because postaccident examination of the engine did not reveal any anomalies that would have precluded normal operation. 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.