# NTSB FTW94LA205: Grumman G-164B, N112JM, Brinkley, AR, June 20, 1994

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: June 20, 1994, 17:30 local (22:30 UTC)
- Place: Brinkley, AR
- Coordinates: 34.879188, -91.180259 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.8792&lon=-91.1803&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 November 14, 1994
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 19092
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW94LA205
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/19092/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW94LA205

## Probable cause

A SUPERCHARGER IMPELLER BEARING FAILURE. 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, takeoff - initial climb
  - eng assembly,blower/impeller/integral supercharger - failure,total (cause)
- Forced landing, descent - emergency
- On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - roll
  - terrain condition - none suitable (contributing factor)
  - terrain condition - berm
  - object - tree(s)
- Nose over, landing - roll

## Analysis

DURING THE TAKEOFF INITIAL CLIMB SMOKE CAME FROM THE ENGINE AND A POWER HESITATION OCCURED.  THE PILOT DUMPED THE LOAD AND TURNED THE AIRPLANE TOWARD THE AIRPORT.  AS MORE SMOKE CAME FROM THE ENGINE, A TOTAL LOSS OF POWER OCCURRED. DURING THE FORCED LANDING THE AIRPLANE CROSSED A TREE LINE AND LANDED IN A RICE FIELD.  DURING THE LANDING ROLL, THE MAIN GEAR HIT A LEVEE AND THE AIRPLANE CAME TO REST INVERTED.  EXAMINATION OF THE ENGINE AND ACCERSSORIES REVEALED THE SUPERCHARGER IMPELLER P/N 12788 WAS DAMAGED WHERE THE BLADES HAD CONTACTED THE HOUSING.  THE IMPELLER BEARING P/N 288943 HAD FAILED AND ALLOWED THE IMPELLER TO BE DESTROYED RESULTING IN A COMPLETE LOSS OF THE ENGINE POWER.

## Factual narrative

On June 20, 1994, at 1730 central daylight time, a Grumman      G-164B, N112JM, was substantially damaged near Brinkley, Arkansas, following a total loss of engine power during takeoff.  The commercial pilot did not receive injuries.  Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the local aerial application flight.

During telephone interviews, the pilot and operator reported an "abnormal engine noise" occurred as the airplane crossed the departure end of the runway.  The pilot dumped the load, cleared trees, and maintained level flight.  The pilot said "the engine coughed and black smoke rolled from it."  A witness also observed black smoke from the airplane.  The pilot executed a forced landing into an adjacent rice field.  During the landing roll, the main gear hit a rice levee and the airplane nosed over to an inverted position and slid into another rice levee before coming to rest.  The rudder, vertical stabilizer, and wing spars were damaged.

During a telephone interview, a company mechanic stated that  the reciprocating radial engine had 1,135 hours since the last overhaul.  He further said the engine had between 9,000 and 10,000 total hours.

The engine and accessories were examined on August 24, 1994, at Greenwood, Mississippi.  The report is enclosed.  The supercharger impeller P/N 12788 was damaged where the blades had contacted the housing.  Impeller bearing P/N 288943 had failed.

The airplane was released to the owner.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N112JM (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: GRUMMAN G-164B
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 295B
- Airframe hours: 6207
- Engines: P&W R-1340-AN-1 600 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Aerial application, Part 137
- Registered owner: Chism Flying Service, Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special)
- Last inspection: Annual, February 14, 1994, 260 hours before

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 29; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: center; flight hours: 1,928 total, 1,600 in this make and model, 1,858 as pilot in command, 200 in the last 90 days, 85 in the last 30 days, 12 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 100° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 8 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 90 °F, dew point 68 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg

## 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 19940620048999A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19940620048999A), Jun 20, 1994: Scwzer G164B, Brinkley, AR, Substantial damage. Smoke power loss on takeoff. Dumped load. Nosed over in rice field. Supercharger impeller bearing failed.

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.
