# NTSB FTW90DRA04: Grumman 164A, N5295, Garwood, TX, April 20, 1990

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Final report
- Date: April 20, 1990, 18:00 local (23:00 UTC)
- Place: Garwood, TX
- Coordinates: 29.450004, -96.510375 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.4500&lon=-96.5104&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 December 14, 1992
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 22971
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW90DRA04
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/22971/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW90DRA04

## Probable cause

FAILURE OF THE NUMBER 8 CYLINDER.

## 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, takeoff - initial climb
  - engine assembly,cylinder - failure,total (cause)
- Loss of control - in flight, maneuvering
  - load jettison - attempted, pilot in command
  - airspeed - not maintained, pilot in command
  - stall - inadvertent, pilot in command (contributing factor)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled
- Nose over, other

## Analysis

VERY SHORTLY AFTER TAKEOFF THE PILOT HEARD A 'HISSING SOUND' AND IMMEDIATELY STARTED DUMPING HIS CHEMICAL LOAD. HE WAS HOLDING THE NOSE UP IN AN EFFORT TO STAY AIRBORNE AND COMPLETE THE DUMP WHEN ALL POWER WAS LOST. THE AIRPLANE THEN STALLED FROM ABOUT 20 FEET AND NOSED OVER UPON IMPACT. AN FAA INSPECTOR REPORTED THAT THERE WAS A CRACK IN THE COMBUSTION CHAMBER AREA OF THE NUMBER NINE CYLINDER, WHICH RAN FORE AND AFT THROUGH THE SPARKPLUG HOLES.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N5295](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5295-2021-05-08), registration cancelled 2021-05-08, S/N 579, built 1969 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: GRUMMAN 164A
- Registry model: [Grumman G-164A](https://openairdocs.org/model/grumman-g-164a) (registry code 3952704) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Pratt & Whitney R1340 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-r1340-series) (registry code 52016, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 579
- Engines: P&W R1340-AN1 600 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Aerial application, Part 137
- Operator: Mike Ramsey, doing business as Aero-Ag Services, Inc.
- Registered owner: Rex Allen Shoop
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special)
- Last inspection: Annual, February 8, 1990, 147 hours before
- Departed: NONE

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 31; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: front; flight hours: 8,950 total, 8,640 in this make and model, 8,923 as pilot in command, 180 in the last 90 days, 10 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 81 °F, dew point -0 °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 19900420010509A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19900420010509A), Apr 20, 1990: Scwzer G164A, Garwood, TX, Destroyed. Cylinder cracked on takeoff climb. Engine lost power. Nosed over landing in rice field after dumping load.

## Other investigations on N5295 (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 FTW70D0193](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW70D0193), Aug 18, 1969: Grumman G-164A (N5295), Garwood, TX, substantial damage
- [NTSB FTW69F0464](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW69F0464), Apr 22, 1969: Grumman G-164A (N5295), Oberlin, LA, 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.

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