# NTSB FTW02LA152: Grumman-Schweizer G-164A, N48533, Hathaway, LA, May 17, 2002 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: May 17, 2002, 12:30 local (17:30 UTC) - Place: Hathaway, LA - Coordinates: 30.410554, -92.634445 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.4106&lon=-92.6344&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report April 1, 2003 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 54716 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW02LA152 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/54716/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=54716 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW02LA152 ## Probable cause the loss of engine power for undetermined reasons. A contributing factor 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, maneuvering - aerial application - reason for occurrence undetermined (cause) - Forced landing, emergency descent/landing - Nose over, emergency landing - terrain condition - none suitable (contributing factor) ## Analysis The pilot reported that while pulling up out of the field the agricultural airplane began to settle. He added full power; however, there wasn't any response, and the airplane continued to settle. During the ensuing forced landing to a rice field, the airplane nosed over and came to rest inverted. The reason for the loss of engine power was not determined. ## Factual narrative On May 17, 2002, approximately 1230 central daylight time, a Grumman-Schweizwer G-164A agricultural airplane, N48533, was substantially damaged during a forced landing following a loss of engine power near Hathaway, Louisiana. The airplane was registered to and operated by a private individual. The commercial pilot, sole occupant, was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 137 aerial application flight, and a flight plan was not filed. The flight originated from a private airstrip at 1220. The pilot stated he was operating off of a short grass airstrip and this was his fourth load of the day. The airplane was hauling 1,400 pounds of fertilizer, approximately one-half of a normal load. After making several passes, with the load down to 1,000 pounds, he pulled up out of the field, and "the airplane felt like it was settling." He added full power, but "the engine didn't respond with any more power. It didn't want to fly, and it kept settling." The pilot executed a forced landing straight ahead in a rice field and touched down in a flat, wings level attitude. The airplane bounced once, nosed over, and came to rest inverted. According to the FAA inspector, who examined the airplane at the accident site, there was substantial damage to the empennage and the firewall. Both wings, the engine, and both main landing gear were damaged. The 600-horsepower Pratt & Whitney R-1340-AN1 engine had accumulated a total of 6,876 hours (350 hours since overhaul), and underwent its most recent annual inspection on February 4, 2002, approximately 50 hours prior to the accident. The reason for the loss of engine power was not determined. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N48533](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N48533-2007-06-20), registration cancelled 2007-06-20, S/N 1665, built 1976 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Grumman-Schweizer G-164A - Registry model: [Grumman Acft ENG Cor-Schweizer G-164A](https://openairdocs.org/model/grumman-acft-eng-cor-schweizer-g-164a) (registry code 3952801) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Pratt & Whitney R1340 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-r1340-series) (registry code 52016, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 1665 - Airframe hours: 6876 - Engines: Pratt & Whitney R-1340-AN1 600 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Aerial application, Part 137 - Registered owner: Daniel L. Ewing - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, February 4, 2002, 50 hours before - Departed: Hathaway, LA ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 27; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; last flight review January 8, 2002; seat: single; flight hours: 1,600 total, 50 in this make and model, 1,400 as pilot in command, 50 in the last 90 days, 30 in the last 30 days, 8 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 180° at 10 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 84 °F, dew point 72 °F - Altimeter: 30.04 inHg - Observed at: LCH, 37 nm away ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on December 10, 2002, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=54716. 444 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 402 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40438925&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Pilot Interview (item 2, .PDF, 42 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40438926&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%20Interview-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.