# NTSB LAX00LA278: Schweizer G-164B, N3629E, Tracy, CA, July 26, 2000 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 26, 2000, 09:30 local (16:30 UTC) - Place: Tracy, CA - Location: 37.7274° N, 121.4522° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Tracy, CA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.7274&lon=-121.4522&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report September 26, 2001 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 49830 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX00LA278 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/49830/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX00LA278 ## Probable cause A loss of engine power for undetermined reasons. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power, cruise - reason for occurrence undetermined (cause) - Forced landing, emergency descent/landing - Nose over, emergency landing - terrain condition - crop - terrain condition - soft ## Analysis The airplane lost engine power during cruise flight and nosed over during a forced landing in a recently irrigated and soft tomato field. A ground crewman stated the airplane fuel tanks were more than halfway full when the airplane departed. Postaccident inspections revealed no power plant abnormalities. Using the aircraft systems, the engine ran without hesitation when started the day after the accident. No other airframe or fuel system related discrepancies that could explain a loss of power were found. ## Factual narrative On July 26, 2000, about 0930 hours Pacific daylight time, a Schweizer G-164B, N3629E, sustained substantial damage when it made a forced landing in a field and nosed over near Tracy, California. The forced landing was precipitated by a total loss of engine power. Haley Flying Service was operating the airplane under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 137. The commercial pilot was not injured. The aerial application flight departed a private strip near Tracy about 0900. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan had been filed. The pilot told the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) accident coordinator that he lost engine power during cruise flight and landed in a tomato field that had just been irrigated. His touchdown was good but, as the wheels mired in the mushy dirt, the tail started slowly going up and continued until the airplane nosed over. A ground crewman stated the airplane fuel tanks were more than halfway full when the airplane departed. The FAA accident coordinator inspected the airplane. The fuel tanks were clean. The day after the accident, the engine ran without hesitation when it was started using the airframe systems. The carburetor was removed for inspection, and the teardown examination revealed no defects. No evidence of contamination was found in the carburetor bowl or the fuel lines. Both magnetos and the magneto switch functioned properly. Fuel was obtained from the operator's 10,000-gallon fuel tank for analysis. The sample analysis revealed the presence of a high boiling point hydrocarbon similar to lubricating oil. According to the laboratory report, this compound can result in gum deposits. The operator's fuel supply tank was drained for cleaning and no contaminants or gum deposits were found. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N3629E](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N3629E-2023-05-16), registration cancelled 2023-05-16, S/N 744B (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Schweizer G-164B - Registry model: [Schweizer G-164B](https://openairdocs.org/model/schweizer-g-164b) (registry code 8059055) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 744B - Airframe hours: 12355 - Engines: P&W R-1340 AN-1 600 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Aerial application, Part 137 - Registered owner: Haley Flying Service - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, July 24, 2000, 50 hours before ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 46; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: center; flight hours: 14,870 total, 12,870 in this make and model, 14,870 as pilot in command ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 270° at 6 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 162 °F, dew point 126 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: SCK, 12 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 20000726008449A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20000726008449A), Jul 26, 2000: Scwzer G164B, Tracy, CA, No damage. (-23) Investigation on-site. Contacted [privacy data omitted], the manager of haley flying service. The aircraft was located in a tomato filed approximately… ## Other investigations on N3629E (3) 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 WPR18LA113](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR18LA113), Mar 27, 2018: Schweizer G 164B (N3629E), Stockton, CA, substantial damage, 1 fatal. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to maintain clearance with power lines while maneuvering during an aerial application flight. - [NTSB SEA03LA086](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA03LA086), May 16, 2003: Grumman G-164B (N3629E), Basin City, WA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The failure of the torque sensor idler gear duplex bearing during agricultural aerial application, resulting in a total power loss and a forced landing. Factors include tall wheat and soft terrain. - [NTSB LAX94LA213](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX94LA213), May 8, 1994: Schweizer G-164B (N3629E), Gridley, CA, substantial damage. Probable cause: a loss of engine power due to a cracked engine cylinder head. 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.