# NTSB FTW97LA343: Grumman G-164A, N84PG, Hillsboro, TX, September 10, 1997 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: September 10, 1997, 09:20 local (14:20 UTC) - Place: Hillsboro, TX - Coordinates: 32.000686, -97.110702 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.0007&lon=-97.1107&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report April 24, 1998 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 20341 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW97LA343 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/20341/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW97LA343 ## Probable cause Fuel contamination from an undetermined source. 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) - nonmechanical, maneuvering - aerial application - fuel system - contamination,other than water (cause) - fuel system,gascolator - contamination,other than water - fuel system,carburetor - contamination,other than water - Forced landing, emergency landing - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - roll - terrain condition - none suitable (contributing factor) - terrain condition - rough/uneven ## Analysis During a downwind swath, the engine lost power and the pilot turned the airplane into the wind for the forced landing. The airplane struck a dirt terrace during the landing roll, the left main gear collapsed, and the airplane nosed over coming to rest inverted. The airplane had been stored in a hangar for approximately 2 weeks with the fuel tanks 3/4th full. The pilot performed a preflight, loaded the hopper with a defoliant, and departed for the flight. A mechanic and the operator found debris in the fuel gascolator and the carburetor. The pilot reported the fuel contamination from fueling the airplane at the Hillsboro Municipal Airport. Airport personnel use the Velcron filter system. Fuel testing procedures from the manufacturer and the FAA were negative. Other airplane operators purchasing fuel at the airport had experienced no contamination with the fuel. ## Factual narrative On September 10, 1997, at 0920 central daylight time, a Grumman G-164A, N84PG, owned and operated by Edwards Aerial Service under Title 14 CFR Part 137, impacted terrain following a loss of engine power while maneuvering near Hillsboro, Texas. The commercial pilot was not injured and the airplane sustained substantial damage. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the local aerial application flight and a flight plan was not filed. The flight originated from a private agricultural airstrip at 0820. Telephone interviews, conducted by the investigator-in-charge (IIC), revealed that the airplane had been stored in a hangar for approximately 2 weeks with the fuel tanks 3/4th full. The pilot performed a preflight, loaded the hopper with a defoliant, and departed for the flight. During a downwind swath, the engine lost power and the pilot turned the airplane into the wind for the forced landing. The airplane struck a dirt terrace during the landing roll, the left main gear collapsed, and the airplane nosed over coming to rest inverted. The left wing and vertical stabilizer received structural damage. A mechanic and the operator reported to the IIC that debris was found in the fuel gascolator and the carburetor. Structural damage occurred to the vertical stabilizer, rudder, landing gear, propeller, and wing. In a telephone conversation, conducted by the IIC, the pilot reported the fuel contamination from fueling the airplane at the Hillsboro Municipal Airport. On the Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report the pilot recommended "don't buy fuel at Hillsboro Muni[cipal] A.P." [airport]. During several telephone conversations with airport personnel and on the enclosed documents, the IIC gleaned that the airport has two 12,500 gallon fuel storage tanks for the purpose of refueling aircraft. Airport personnel use the Velcron filter system. Fuel testing recommendations from the manufacturer and the FAA were utilized with negative test results. Four of the airplane operators, who base their airplanes at the Hillsboro Municipal Airport and purchase fuel at the airport, reported that they had experienced no contamination with fuel purchased at the airport. ## Aircraft - Registration: N84PG (not matched to a registry record) - Reported make and model: Grumman G-164A - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 1536 - Airframe hours: 5047 - Engines: P&W R-985-14B 450 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Aerial application, Part 137 - Registered owner: Perry Edwards - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, July 28, 1997, 5 hours before - Departed: NONE ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 57; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: center; flight hours: 7,947 total, 3,922 in this make and model, 7,874 as pilot in command, 260 in the last 90 days, 27 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 45° at 10 knots - Visibility: 20 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 19970910026079A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19970910026079A), Sep 10, 1997: Scwzer G164A, Hillsboro, TX, Substantial damage. Lost power on last spray run. Struck terrace landing. Tore out left main gear and flipped over. (-23) john a. seay, pilot of G-164-A autocraft, N84PG, stated… 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.