# NTSB FTW04LA227: Grumman 164B, N8222K, East Bernard, TX, August 31, 2004 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 31, 2004, 17:30 local (22:30 UTC) - Place: East Bernard, TX - Coordinates: 29.532222, -96.145553 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.5322&lon=-96.1456&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report December 3, 2004 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Houston FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 60040 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW04LA227 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/60040/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW04LA227 ## Probable cause The loss of engine power as result of the failure of the number four cylinder. A 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(total) - mech failure/malf, maneuvering - aerial application - engine assembly,cylinder - cracked (cause) - Forced landing, descent - emergency - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, emergency landing - terrain condition - none suitable (contributing factor) - terrain condition - crop ## Analysis The 27,940-hour pilot reported that during an aerial application of chemicals, the radial engine on his agricultural airplane began to "cough and pop" prior to a loss of engine power. Upon this loss of power, the pilot executed an emergency landing into a flooded rice field. The airplane impacted the terrain and nosed-over coming to rest in the inverted position. Examination of the aircraft by a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector revealed that the number four cylinder on the engine was cracked at the barrel. ## Factual narrative On August 31, 2004, approximately 1730 central daylight time, a Grumman 164B agricultural airplane, N8222K, sustained substantial damage during a forced landing following a loss of engine power near East Bernard, Texas. The commercial pilot, sole occupant of the aircraft, was not injured. The airplane was owned and operated by LL Flying Service of Eagle Lake, Texas. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed throughout the area for the 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 137 aerial application flight for which a flight plan was not filed. The local flight originated from a private airstrip near East Bernard, Texas, at 1700. In a telephone interview with the a National Transportation Safety Board investigator, the pilot reported that the engine began to "cough and pop" prior to a loss of engine power. Upon this loss of power, the pilot elected to execute an emergency landing into a flooded rice field. The airplane impacted the terrain and nosed-over coming to rest in the inverted position. Examination of the aircraft by a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector revealed structural damage to the vertical stabilizer/rudder and both wing struts. The inspector also observed that the number four cylinder on the R-1340 radial engine was cracked at the barrel. At 1653, the automated weather observing system at the Sugar Land Regional Airport (SGR) near Sugar Land, Texas, which was the closest weather reporting station to the site of the accident, reported no wind, 10 statute miles visibility, broken clouds at 6,000 feet, temperature 88 degrees Fahrenheit, dew point 68 degrees Fahrenheit, and a barometric pressure of 30.03 inches of Mercury. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N8222K](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N8222K), registered now, S/N 617-B, built 1979 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Grumman 164B - 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 R1340 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-r1340-series) (registry code 52016, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 617-B - Airframe hours: 11378 - Engines: Pratt & Whitney R-1340 600 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Aerial application, Part 137 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, March 17, 2004, 522 hours before - Departed: EAST BERNARD, TX - Destination: East Bernard, TX ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 65; injuries: none; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, single-engine sea, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; last flight review January 14, 2003; seat: single; flight hours: 27,940 total, 10,000 in this make and model, 200 in the last 90 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 0° at 0 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 6,000 ft broken - Temperature: 88 °F, dew point 68 °F - Altimeter: 30.03 inHg - Observed at: KSGR, 26 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 20040831023209A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20040831023209A), Aug 31, 2004: Scwzer G164B, East Bernard, TX, Substantial damage. (-23) On August 31, 2004, at approximately 17:30 CDT, a Gulfstream, N8222K, model G-164-B s/n 617B, was substantially damaged during a forced landing following… ## Other investigations on N8222K (3) 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 CEN13LA519](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN13LA519), Aug 13, 2013: Gulfstream-Schweizer Gulfstream AM G 164B (N8222K), Eagle Lake, TX, substantial damage. Probable cause: The failure of one of the engine cylinders, which resulted in the total loss of engine power and subsequent forced landing. - [NTSB FTW04LA182](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW04LA182), Jul 12, 2004: Gulfstream-Schweizer G-164B (N8222K), Eagle Lake, TX, substantial damage. Probable cause: The loss of engine power for undetermined reasons. A contributing factor was the lack of suitable terrain for the forced landing. - [NTSB MKC84LA210](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MKC84LA210), Jul 9, 1984: Grumman G164B (N8222K), Mc Gehee, AR, substantial damage 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.