# NTSB FTW90DRD05: Schweizer G-164B, N48455, Reeves, LA, April 13, 1990

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Final report
- Date: April 13, 1990, 16:15 local (21:15 UTC)
- Place: Reeves, LA
- Coordinates: 30.509874, -93.039703 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.5099&lon=-93.0397&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report October 2, 1992
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 22982
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW90DRD05
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/22982/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW90DRD05

## Probable cause

LOSS OF ENGINE POWER DUE TO A FROZEN ROCKER ARM.

## 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
  - engine assembly,rocker arm/tappet - frozen (cause)
- Forced landing, descent - emergency
- Gear collapsed, landing - flare/touchdown
  - terrain condition - rough/uneven (contributing factor)
  - terrain condition - soft (contributing factor)
- Nose over, landing - flare/touchdown

## Analysis

DURING AN AERIAL SEEDING FLIGHT, THE AG AIRPLANE ENGINE LOST POWER AND THE PILOT MADE A FORCED LANDING IN A RICE FIELD. AT TOUCHDOWN, THE MAIN LANDING GEAR BROKE OFF, AND THE AIRPLANE FLIPPED FORWARD TO THE INVERTED POSITION. THAT THE NUMBER 3 CYLINDER EXHAUST ROCKER-ARM BEARING HAD FROZEN, LOCKING THE ROCKER-ARM, AND BREAKING OPEN THE ROCKER-BOX COVER.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N48455](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N48455), registered now, S/N 28B, built 1976 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: SCHWEIZER G-164B
- Registry model: [Grumman Acft ENG Cor-Schweizer G-164B](https://openairdocs.org/model/grumman-acft-eng-cor-schweizer-g-164b) (registry code 3952802) (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: 28B
- Engines: P&W R-1340-AN1 600 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Aerial application, Part 137
- Operator: O'Brien Flying Service, doing business as Zoren O'Brien, Watso
- Registered owner: O'Brien Flying Service
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special)
- Last inspection: Annual, October 13, 1989, 176 hours before
- Departed: NONE
- Airport: 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: center; flight hours: 12,060 total, 9,832 in this make and model, 12,060 as pilot in command, 260 in the last 90 days, 95 in the last 30 days, 7 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 150° at 13 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 4,000 ft broken
- Temperature: 66 °F, dew point 57 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: LCH, 30 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 19900413009119A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19900413009119A), Apr 13, 1990: Scwzer G164B, Reeves, LA, Substantial damage. Cylinder valve rocker arm seized knocking off valve cover. Flipped over, hard landing in rice field.

## Other investigations on N48455 (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 WPR10LA212](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR10LA212), Apr 22, 2010: Grumman Acft ENG Cor-Schweizer G-164B (N48455), Buckeye, AZ, substantial damage. Probable cause: A partial loss of engine power during the takeoff roll for undetermined reasons.
- [NTSB FTW93LA089](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW93LA089), Feb 22, 1993: Grumman G-164B (N48455), Indian Village, LA, substantial damage. Probable cause: LANDING PERFORMED SHORT OF THE RUNWAY THRESHOLD. FACTOR WAS WET GRASSY TERRAIN

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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