# NTSB FTW95LA185: Gulfstream-Schweizer G-164B, N6746K, Morse, LA, April 29, 1995

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: April 29, 1995, 10:40 local (15:40 UTC)
- Place: Morse, LA
- Coordinates: 30.120445, -92.489677 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.1204&lon=-92.4897&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report August 23, 1995
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 19406
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW95LA185
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/19406/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW95LA185

## Probable cause

POWER LOSS DUE TO A CRACKED INTAKE VALVE PIPE ASSEMBLY. 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, maneuvering
  - engine assembly,valve,intake - cracked (cause)
- Forced landing, emergency descent/landing
- In flight collision with terrain/water, emergency descent/landing
  - terrain condition - none suitable (contributing factor)

## Analysis

AFTER MAKING ONE SPRAY PASS, THE PILOT PULLED UP TO MAKE ANOTHER PASS. DURING THE MANEUVER, THE ENGINE LOST POWER AND THE AIRPLANE IMPACTED AN ADJACENT FIELD. A MECHANIC WHO EXAMINED THE ENGINE REPORTED FINDING DAMAGE ON THE INTAKE SIDE OF THE #5 CYLINDER, THE INTAKE VALVE RETAINING SPRING MISSING, AND CRACKS IN THE INTAKE PIPE CASTING.

## Factual narrative

On April 29, 1995, approximately 1040 central daylight time, a Gulfstream-Schweizer G-164B, N6746K, was destroyed during a forced landing near Morse, Louisiana.  The commercial pilot was not injured.  Visual meteorological conditions prevailed.

The pilot told a Federal Aviation Administration inspector he had been spraying zinc fertilizer on a rice field.  After making a spray pass, he pulled up and turned left to make another pass.  Beyond this point, he could not remember any further details and there were no known witnesses to the accident.  The pilot told his employer all he remembered was the airplane "just falling."  In his pilot/operator report; however, the pilot said the "engine failed and aircraft lost altitude and impacted neighboring rice field."

The FAA inspector who examined the wreckage noted the propeller blades were bent straight back with no twisting.  Additionally, there were no chordwise scratching on the cambered surfaces of the blades.  A mechanic later found damage to the intake side of the number five cylinder.  The intake valve retaining spring was missing and there were cracks in the intake pipe casting.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N6746K](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N6746K-1997-02-07), registration cancelled 1997-02-07, S/N 447B (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: GULFSTREAM-SCHWEIZER G-164B
- Registry model: [Gulfstream-Schweizer A/C GULFSTREAM AM G-164B](https://openairdocs.org/model/gulfstream-schweizer-a-c-gulfstream-am-g-164b) (registry code 3979904) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 447B
- Engines: P&W R-1340-AN1 600 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Aerial application, Part 137
- Registered owner: Ledeuxs Flying Service
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special)
- Last inspection: Annual, April 14, 1995, 55 hours before
- Departed: NONE, CROWLEY, LA

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 39; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: center; flight hours: 2,696 total, 2,000 in this make and model, 2,000 as pilot in command, 190 in the last 30 days, 10 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 200° at 15 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 81 °F, dew point 63 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: LFT, 26 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 19950429009939A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19950429009939A), Apr 29, 1995: Scwzer G164B, Morse, LA, Destroyed. Engine quit on pullup from spray run. Impacted another field. NR5 intake valve spring and intake pipe cracked.

## Other investigations on N6746K (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 FTW82DA164](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW82DA164), May 4, 1982: Grumman G-164B (N6746K), Houston, TX, substantial damage
- [NTSB FTW81DRA42](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW81DRA42), Jul 2, 1981: Grumman G-164B (N6746K), Sealy, TX, 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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