# NTSB FTW81FRD16: Grumman G-164A, N5477, Bell City, LA, March 21, 1981

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Closed
- Date: March 21, 1981
- Place: Bell City, LA · BELL CITY, LA
- Location: 30.1133° N, 92.9627° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Bell City, LA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.1133&lon=-92.9627&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report May 13, 1981
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 126879
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW81FRD16
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW81FRD16

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-0475  81/3/21    BELL CITY,LA        GRUMMAN G-164A      CR-  0  0  1  COMMERCIAL                COMMERCIAL, AGE 36, 7000
        TIME - 1130                    N5477               PX-  0  0  0  ASSOC CROP CTL ACTIVITY   TOTAL HOURS, 2000 IN
                                       DAMAGE-SUBSTANTIAL  OT-  0  0  0                            TYPE, INSTRUMENT RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - FARM STRIP
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          BELL CITY,LA                LOCAL
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           ENGINE FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION                            TAKEOFF: INITIAL CLIMB
           COLLIDED WITH: DIRT BANK                                 LANDING: LEVEL OFF/TOUCHDOWN
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           POWERPLANT - ENGINE STRUCTURE: BLOWER,IMPELLER ASSEMBLY
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - MATERIAL FAILURE
        FACTOR(S)
           TERRAIN - ROUGH/UNEVEN
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - JETTISONED LOAD
        COMPLETE POWER LOSS - COMPLETE ENGINE FAILURE/FLAMEOUT-1 ENGINE
        EMERGENCY CIRCUMSTANCES - FORCED LANDING OFF AIRPORT ON LAND
         SPECIAL DATA
          TOTAL HOURS IN CROP CONTROL - UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED       KIND OF OPERATION - FERTILIZING (DUST)
          KIND OF CROP - RICE                                      TYPE OF CHEMICAL USED - DRY CHEMICAL-NONTOXIC
          PILOT' S SEAT BELT -UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED                 GLOVES - NOT USED
          GOGGLES - NOT USED                                       CRASH HELMET - AVAILABLE USED
          COCKPIT CRASHPAD - INSTALLED                             CRASH BAR - INSTALLED
          TANK/HOPPER-LOCATION - FORWARD OF PILOT                  TERRAIN-TYPE -LEVEL,FLAT
        REMARKS- FRONT IMPELLER INTERMEDIATE DRIVE BEARING,P/N 359236-A,DISINTEGRATED.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: N5477 (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: GRUMMAN G-164A
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Airport: Farm Strip

## 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 19810321011189A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19810321011189A), Mar 21, 1981: Grumav G164A, Bell City, LA, Substantial damage. Engine quit on takeoff. Nosed over landing. Engine supercharger front drive bearing failed. Pumped oil in intake.

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.

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