# NTSB FTW01LA193: Grumman G164B, N2LU, Rayville, LA, August 28, 2001 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 28, 2001, 16:45 local (21:45 UTC) - Place: Rayville, LA - Coordinates: 32.47063, -91.749259 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.4706&lon=-91.7493&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report February 5, 2002 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 53106 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW01LA193 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/53106/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW01LA193 ## Probable cause the partial failure of the magneto drive coupling while maneuvering, which resulted in a loss of engine power and a forced landing. A contributing factor to the accident was the lack of suitable terrain for the forced landing. ## 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, maneuvering - aerial application - ignition system,magneto - failure,partial (cause) - Forced landing, emergency descent/landing - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - roll - terrain condition - berm - terrain condition - none suitable (contributing factor) ## Analysis The pilot had been applying malathion to a field for approximately 1 hour and 15 minutes when the engine began backfiring and running rough. A loss of engine power ensued and the pilot executed a forced landing to a field. The airplane touched down and rolled approximately 200 feet before the left main gear hit a small mound of grass and dirt. Subsequently, the aircraft nosed over. Examination of the engine revealed that the drive coupling on a magneto was partially sheared. ## Factual narrative On August 28, 2001, at 1645 central daylight time, a Grumman G164B agricultural airplane, N2LU, was substantially damaged during a forced landing following a loss of engine power near Rayville, Louisiana. The airplane was registered to and operated by Barham Bros Inc., of Oakridge, Louisiana. The commercial pilot, sole occupant of the airplane, was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed for the 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 137 aerial application flight. The local flight originated from the Hooks Memorial Airport, Rayville, Louisiana, at 1530. According to the pilot, he had been applying malathion to a field for approximately 1 hour and 15 minutes when the engine began "backfiring and running rough." A loss of engine power ensued and the pilot executed a forced landing to a field. The airplane touched down and rolled approximately 200 feet before the "left main gear hit [a] small mound of grass and dirt." Subsequently, "the aircraft nosed over very gently onto its back," and came to rest inverted. Post accident examination of the airplane, by an FAA inspector and the operator, revealed that the drive coupling on one of the magneto's was "sheared but not completely." According to the operator the magneto had accumulated a total of 807.0 hours. They reported that the airplane's tail section sustained structural damage. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N2LU](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N2LU), registered now, S/N 595B (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Grumman G164B - Registry model: [Gulfstream-Schweizer A/C GULFSTREAM AM G-164B](https://openairdocs.org/model/gulfstream-schweizer-a-c-gulfstream-am-g-164b) (registry code 3979904) (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: 595 - Engines: P&W R-985-AN1 450 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Aerial application, Part 137 - Registered owner: Barham Bros Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special) - Departed: M79, Rayville, LA ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 64; injuries: none; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: rear; flight hours: 5,000 total, 500 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 350° at 6 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 10,000 ft broken - Temperature: 75 °F, dew point 72 °F - Altimeter: 29.98 inHg - Observed at: MLU, 17 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 20010828024169A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20010828024169A), Aug 28, 2001: Scwzer G164B, Rayville, LA, No damage. (-23) During aerial application, the pilot completed a pass and began to pull up. A single backfire was heard and the pilot continued his climb to 200-300… ## Other investigations on N2LU (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 CEN11LA396](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN11LA396), May 27, 2011: Grumman G164 (N2LU), Oak Ridge, LA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The flight instructor's failure to maintain adequate airspeed, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall and subsequent impact with trees. - [NTSB FTW98LA058](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW98LA058), Nov 24, 1997: Gulfstream-Schweizer G-164B (N2LU), Lecompte, LA, substantial damage. Probable cause: a loose battery cover, due to improper installation by maintenance personnel, that became jammed with an elevator control rod and restricted the movement of the elevator control system, which… 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.