# NTSB FTW96LA007: Grumman G-164A, N9873, Hamburg, AR, October 5, 1995 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: October 5, 1995, 09:30 local (14:30 UTC) - Place: Hamburg, AR - Coordinates: 33.220317, -91.789932 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.2203&lon=-91.7899&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report June 7, 1996 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 19681 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW96LA007 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/19681/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW96LA007 ## Probable cause Loss of engine power due to a cylinder failure. A factor relating to the accident 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 - engine assembly,cylinder - failure (cause) - Forced landing, emergency landing after takeoff - In flight collision with terrain/water, emergency landing after takeoff - terrain condition - none suitable (contributing factor) - terrain condition - ditch - terrain condition - rough/uneven ## Analysis The pilot reported that during the initial takeoff climb at about 175 feet AGL, the engine surged and lost power. He attempted to land the airplane in a bean field. However, shortly after touchdown, the airplane exited the field, hit a ditch, and was damaged. The pilot reported that an engine cylinder had failed. ## Factual narrative On October 5, 1995, at 0930 central daylight time, a Grumman G-164A, N9873, collided with terrain during a forced landing following a loss of engine power near Hamburg, Arkansas. The commercial pilot received minor injuries and the airplane was destroyed. The airplane was registered to, and operated by a private owner under Title 14 CFR Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the local aerial application flight and a flight plan was not filed. The flight was originating at the time of the accident. During a personal interview, conducted by a FAA inspector, the pilot reported the following information. He had recently purchased the airplane and filed the registration documents with the FAA Aeronautical Center at Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. The airplane was registered with the State of Oklahoma; however, he had not applied to the FAA for the Title 14 CFR Part 137 operating certificate. The pilot further stated to the FAA inspector that after refueling, the airplane departed Crossett, Arkansas, and flew to a private airstrip at the Bill Harvison Farm. Aerial application flights were conducted from the private airstrip with the hopper loaded with 150 gallons of sodium chlorate for spraying beans. According to the pilot, during the initial takeoff climb, at 175 feet above the ground, the engine "started surging and losing power." During the landing flare and touchdown in a bean field, the airplane exited the field and hit a ditch paralleling a gravel road. Subsequently, the airplane crossed the road and came to rest in the ditch on the opposite side of the road. Structural damage occurred to the airframe and engine. The enclosed Pilot/Operator report listed an engine cylinder as the failed component. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N9873](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N9873-2013-09-17), registration cancelled 2013-09-17, S/N 1313, built 1974 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Grumman G-164A - Registry model: [Grumman Acft ENG Cor-Schweizer G-164A](https://openairdocs.org/model/grumman-acft-eng-cor-schweizer-g-164a) (registry code 3952801) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Pratt & Whitney R1340 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-r1340-series) (registry code 52016, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 1313 - Airframe hours: 2877 - Engines: P&W R-1340-AN1 600 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Aerial application, Part 91 - Registered owner: Henry Shane Austin - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, March 9, 1995, 245 hours before ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 28; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: front; flight hours: 1,826 total, 1,000 in this make and model, 300 in the last 90 days, 100 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 360° at 3 knots - Visibility: 5 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 81 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 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 19951005049719A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19951005049719A), Oct 5, 1995: Scwzer G164A, Hamburg, AR, Destroyed. (-16) According to the pilot, the engine started surging and losing power at about 75 feet above the ground on initial take-off. The aircraft touched down in… ## Other investigations on N9873 (1) 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 IAD79FID31](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/IAD79FID31), Sep 4, 1979: Grumman G-164A (N9873), Glouster, VA, 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. --- 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.