# NTSB FTW96LA388: Schweizer G-164B, N8498K, Ferriday, LA, September 17, 1996 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: September 17, 1996, 13:00 local (18:00 UTC) - Place: Ferriday, LA - Coordinates: 31.629159, -91.549095 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=31.6292&lon=-91.5491&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 May 23, 1997 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 19981 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW96LA388 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/19981/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW96LA388 ## Probable cause The partial loss of engine power due to a cracked cylinder head. Factors were the oil leak which restricted the pilot's visual lookout and 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(partial) - mech failure/malf, takeoff - initial climb - engine assembly,cylinder - cracked (cause) - Forced landing, emergency landing after takeoff - In flight collision with object, emergency landing after takeoff - fluid,oil - leak (contributing factor) - visual lookout - restricted, pilot in command (contributing factor) - terrain condition - none suitable (contributing factor) - terrain condition - high vegetation - Nose down, landing - roll ## Analysis The pilot reported that during the airplane's takeoff climb, the engine lost power, and the windshield became coated with oil. The pilot 'immediately began a shallow right turn attempting to return to the airstrip.' During the descent, the airplane's spray boom caught the tall weeds 'causing a loss of airspeed.' The airplane impacted the ground short of the runway threshold and came to rest on its nose. The engine separated from the airframe, all four wings were damaged, and the landing gear separated from the fuselage. The salvage yard owner who performed a partial engine examination and tear down reported finding metal throughout the engine and one cylinder head cracked. ## Factual narrative On September 17, 1996, at 1300 central daylight time, a Schweizer G-164B, N8498K, was substantially damaged during a forced landing following a partial power loss near Ferriday, Louisiana. The commercial pilot, sole occupant of the airplane, was not injured. The airplane was registered to a private owner and operated by Ag-Cats Inc. under Title 14 CFR Part 137. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the aerial application flight which was originating from a private agricultural airstrip at the time of the accident. A flight plan was not filed for the local flight. The pilot reported that during the airplane's takeoff climb, the engine lost power, and the windshield became coated with oil. The pilot "immediately began a shallow right turn attempting to return to the airstrip." During the descent, the airplane's spray boom caught the tall weeds "causing a loss of airspeed." The airplane impacted the ground short of the runway threshold and came to rest on its nose. The engine separated from the airframe, all four wings were damaged, and the landing gear separated from the fuselage. The IIC interviewed the salvage yard owner who performed a partial engine examination and tear down. He reported finding metal throughout the engine and one cylinder head was cracked. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N8498K](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8498K-2013-05-06), registration cancelled 2013-05-06, S/N 715B, built 1983 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Schweizer G-164B - Registry model: [Schweizer G-164B](https://openairdocs.org/model/schweizer-g-164b) (registry code 8059055) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Pratt & Whitney R1340 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-r1340-series) (registry code 52016, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 715B - Airframe hours: 3005 - Engines: P&W R-1340-AN1 600 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Aerial application, Part 137 - Operator: Ag-Cats, Inc. - Registered owner: Johnnie Woodruff - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, March 28, 1996, 672 hours before - Departed: NONE - Airport: NONE, Private Agstrip, runway 36, grass/turf ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 42; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: front; flight hours: 1,287 total, 1,238 as pilot in command, 445 in the last 90 days, 250 in the last 30 days, 5 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 360° at 2 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 81 °F ## 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 19960917028559A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19960917028559A), Sep 17, 1996: Scwzer G164B, Ferriday, LA, Substantial damage. Aircraft lost power shortly after takeoff, pilot turned back to land and crashed short of runway. (-23) on September 17, 1996, at 1300 central daylight time, a… ## Other investigations on N8498K (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 FTW02LA107](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW02LA107), Mar 28, 2002: Grumman-Schweizer G-164B (N8498K), Ferriday, LA, substantial damage. Probable cause: the failure of the number three cylinder exhaust rocker arm, resulting in a total loss of engine power. A contributing factor was the lack of suitable terrain for the forced landing. 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.