FTW95LA392

NTSB accident investigation · Grumman G-164B · Springlake, TX · June 8, 1995

Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal report
Date
June 7, 1995, 20:00 local (Jun 8, 1995, 01:00 UTC)
Place
Springlake, TX
Injuries
1 uninjured
Damage
Substantial damage
Phase of flight
Approach
Aircraft
N211JMGrumman G-164B
Weather
Visual (VMC) · Day
Status
Completed · report October 27, 1995
Report
Approved by Office Director
FAA report
19950607046519A
Case key
19582

From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.

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Probable cause

The loss of engine power due to the uncontained failure of the third stage turbine wheel. A factor was the lack of suitable terrain for the forced landing.

Sequence of events

NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.

Loss of engine power(total) - mech failure/malfGo-around (vfr)
Turbine assembly,turbine wheel - failure,totalCause
Powerplant - fire
Emergency procedure - initiatedPilot in command
Forced landingEmergency descent/landing
In flight collision with terrain/waterEmergency landing
Terrain condition - ditch
Terrain condition - none suitableFactor

Analysis

The pilot of a turbine engine powered aerial application airplane experienced an uncontained engine failure and fire when he added power to execute a go around at his home base airport. The pilot pulled the engine emergency fuel shutoff, successfully extinguishing the engine fire. The pilot elected to execute a forced landing to a corn field beyond a road at the departure end of the runway. The tailwheel impacted a drainage ditch on the shoulder of the road and the airplane nosed over coming to rest in the inverted position. Post examination of the engine revealed that the loss of engine power was attributed to the failure of the third stage turbine wheel assembly.

Factual narrative

On June 7, 1995, approximately 2000 central daylight time, a Grumman G-164B, N211JM, was substantially damaged during a forced landing near Springlake, Texas. The airline transport rated pilot was not injured. The airplane was being operated by Sanderson Grain Inc., under Title 14 CFR Part 137. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the aerial application flight for which no flight plan was filed.

According to the pilot, the engine lost power when he added power to execute a go around when overflying the runway at his home based airport. The pilot stated that the "engine failed then a big stream of fire followed coming out of the exhaust pipe." The pilot added that he pulled the engine emergency fuel shutoff, and the fire was extinguished.

In the enclosed pilot/operator report, the pilot states that he elected to continue straight ahead and attempt a forced landing in a corn field beyond the county road at the departure end of the runway. The pilot added that the tailwheel impacted a drainage ditch between the road and the corn field, and the airplane nosed over coming to rest in the inverted position. The airplane sustained structural damage to a wing spar and the tail wheel attaching point.

Post examination of the engine by the owners representative revealed that the loss of engine power, and subsequent fire, was attributed to the uncontained failure of the third stage turbine wheel assembly.

Aircraft

Registration
N211JM
Reported as
Grumman G-164B
Category
Airplane
Serial number
698
Airframe hours
6,785
Engine
Garrett TPE331-1, 665 horsepower, turbo prop
Damage
Substantial damage
Fire
In-Flight
Flight
Aerial application · Part 137
Registered owner
James B. Sanderson
Airworthiness certificate
Special, Restricted (Special)
Last inspection
Annual · May 3, 1995 · 475 hours before

Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

Role
Pilot
Age
39
Certificates
Commercial, Flight instructor, Airline transport
Airplane ratings
Multi-engine land, Single-engine land
Instrument ratings
Airplane
Medical
Class 2, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
Seat
Center
Flight hours
7,156 total · 600 in this make and model · 6,495 as pilot in command · 300 in the last 90 days · 150 in the last 30 days · 1 in the last 24 hours

Weather

Conditions
Visual (VMC) · Day
Wind
180° at 10 knots
Visibility
15 statute miles
Lowest ceiling
None
Temperature
81 °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.