# NTSB LAX02LA143: Grumman-Schweizer G-164C, N6702K, Olivehurst, CA, April 25, 2002 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: April 25, 2002, 12:57 local (19:57 UTC) - Place: Olivehurst, CA - Coordinates: 39.100276, -121.500831 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.1003&lon=-121.5008&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report June 30, 2004 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 54591 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX02LA143 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/54591/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=54591 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX02LA143 ## Probable cause Fuel starvation due to the failure of an engine accessory component. A contributing factor was the rough terrain. ## 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, maneuvering - aerial application - accessory drive assy - failure,total (cause) - fuel system,fuel control - inoperative (cause) - fluid,fuel - starvation (cause) - Forced landing, emergency descent/landing - Nose gear collapsed, landing - roll - terrain condition - rough/uneven (contributing factor) ## Analysis During an agricultural application flight, all engine power was lost. The pilot made a forced landing on a nearby rough field, and during the landing rollout the airplane nosed over. An examination of the engine revealed that a gearbox component broke, which made the fuel control inoperative and resulted in fuel starvation. ## Factual narrative On April 25, 2002, about 1257 Pacific daylight time, a Grumman-Schweizer G-164C, N6702K, experienced a total loss of engine power while maneuvering during an aerial application flight about 2 miles east of Olivehurst, California. The pilot made a forced landing in a rough field. During the landing rollout, the airplane nosed over and was substantially damaged. The commercial pilot was not injured. The airplane was operated by Moe's Crop Dusting, Marysville, California. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. The flight was performed under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 137, and it originated from a field near the crash site about 1254. The pilot holds a Federal Aviation Administration airframe and power plant mechanic certificate. He reported to the National Transportation Safety Board investigator that at the time of the mishap, the airplane's fuel tanks were about 1/2 full. The pilot stated that the airplane had been operating normally during the flight while he was applying fertilizer to the underlying field. Without warning, the Garrett turbine engine lost all power. Subsequently, the engine was removed from the airframe and examined. The pilot reported that the examination revealed the engine's torque sensor-bearing shaft was broken. This broken gearbox component inhibited proper operation of the fuel control, and the fuel supply to the engine was thereby shut off. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N6702K](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N6702K-2012-08-20), registration cancelled 2012-08-20, S/N 23C, built 1978 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Grumman-Schweizer G-164C - Registry model: [Grumman Acft ENG Cor-Schweizer G-164C](https://openairdocs.org/model/grumman-acft-eng-cor-schweizer-g-164c) (registry code 3952803) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Pratt & Whitney R1340 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-r1340-series) (registry code 52016, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 23C - Airframe hours: 5482 - Engines: Garrett TPE-331-5 840 horsepower turbo prop - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Aerial application, Part 137 - Operator: Moe's Crop Dusting - Registered owner: Hal W. Haughey, Trustee - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, October 1, 2001, 68 hours before - Departed: Marysville, CA - Destination: Marysville, CA ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 47; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; last flight review August 15, 2001; seat: single; flight hours: 10,400 total, 2,000 in this make and model, 10,400 as pilot in command, 100 in the last 90 days, 60 in the last 30 days, 10 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 220° at 3 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 66 °F, dew point 48 °F - Altimeter: 29.95 inHg - Observed at: MYV, 3 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 20020425012819A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20020425012819A), Apr 25, 2002: Scwzer G164C, Marysville, CA, No damage. (-23) Pilot was performing FAR 137 operations applying fertilizer when the engine failed in flight. Pilot attempted to land in a chiseled field he was flying… ## Docket (1 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on April 23, 2004, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=54591. 291 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 291 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40432535&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF 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.