# NTSB FTW93LA179: Grumman-Schweizer G-164B, N6693Q, Kaplan, LA, June 5, 1993 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: June 5, 1993, 08:45 local (13:45 UTC) - Place: Kaplan, LA - Coordinates: 30.0004, -92.279525 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.0004&lon=-92.2795&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Standing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/150) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report September 13, 1994 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 18767 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW93LA179 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/18767/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW93LA179 ## Probable cause THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO HAVE THE AIRPLANE PROPERLY ATTENDED DURING START WHEN PEOPLE WERE AVAILABLE. A FACTOR WAS THE INADEQUATE TIE DOWN ROPE. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - On ground/water collision with object, standing - starting engine(s) - object - airport facility - aircraft unattended/engine(s) running - improper, pilot in command (cause) - tie down - inadequate, pilot in command (contributing factor) ## Analysis ACCORDING TO THE PILOT, HE HAD TIED DOWN THE TAIL WHEEL OF THE 6075 POUND AIRPLANE WITH A PIECE OF ROPE AND WAS ATTEMPTING TO HAND PROP THE ENGINE. HE FURTHER STATED THAT THE ENGINE STARTED SLOW AT FIRST AND ACCELERATED QUICKLY. THE ROPE BROKE AND THE AIRPLANE STARTED MOVING UNDER ITS OWN POWER. ANOTHER PILOT ON THE GROUND WAS ABLE TO GRAB THE RIGHT WING AND THE AIRPLANE YAWED NOSE RIGHT. IT SUBSEQUENTLY COLLIDED WITH A HANGAR. THE PILOT STATED HE HAD PERFORMED THIS PROCEDURE 'THOUSANDS OF TIMES.' ## Factual narrative On June 5, 1993, at approximately 0845 central daylight time, a Grumman/Schweizer G-164B, N6693Q, was substantially damaged when it collided with a hangar after engine start at a private strip near Kaplan, Louisiana. The airplane was being hand propped by a commercial pilot in preparation for an aerial application flight. There was no flight plan filed and visual meteorological conditions prevailed throughout the area. Neither the pilot, nor a pilot bystander, who was involved, were injured. According to the pilot, he had tied down the tail wheel with a piece of rope and was attempting to hand prop the engine. He further stated that the engine "started slow at first and then accelerated quickly." The rope broke and the 6075 pound airplane started moving under its own power. A pilot on the ground was able to grab the right wing and the airplane yawed nose right. It subsequently collided with a hangar. The pilot stated he had performed the procedure "thousands of times." ## Aircraft - Registration: [N6693Q](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N6693Q-2013-04-30), registration cancelled 2013-04-30, S/N 212B, built 1977 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Grumman-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: 212B - Engines: P&W R-985 450 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Aerial application, Part 137 - Registered owner: Ed & Alex Flying Service, Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special) - Airport: NONE, Broussard Strip ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 72; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; flight hours: 47,462 total, 27,075 in this make and model, 47,270 as pilot in command, 160 in the last 90 days, 50 in the last 30 days, 6 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 225° at 15 knots, gusting 18 - Visibility: 7 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none ## 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 19930605017439A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19930605017439A), Jun 5, 1993: Scwzer G164B, Kaplan, LA, Substantial damage. Tied tail with rope and hand propped engine start. Throttle crept open broke rope. Ran into a hangar. ## Other investigations on N6693Q (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 FTW90DRD10](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW90DRD10), Jun 4, 1990: Grumman G-164B (N6693Q), Mamou, LA, substantial damage. Probable cause: PILOT MISJUDGED WIND INFORMATION. FACTORS CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WERE THE TAILWIND, THE TREES AND THE LEVEE. - [NTSB FTW89DRD06](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW89DRD06), Jun 6, 1989: Grumman-Schweizer G-164B (N6693Q), Ville Platte, LA, substantial damage. Probable cause: WEAR AND/OR FAILURE OF THE CARBURETOR/FLOAT. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: THE TERRAIN CONDITIONS. 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.