# NTSB LAX08LA137: Grumman G-164, N703Y, Butte City, CA, May 6, 2008 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: May 5, 2008, 18:10 local (May 6, 2008, 01:10 UTC) - Place: Butte City, CA - Coordinates: 39.483333, -121.900001 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.4833&lon=-121.9000&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Initial climb: Fuel exhaustion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report May 6, 2009 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 68028 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX08LA137 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/68028/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX08LA137 ## Probable cause A total loss of engine power during takeoff due to fuel exhaustion as a result of the pilot's failure to verify the fuel quantity prior to flight. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Fluids: fuel](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010): Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware · Fluid level (probable cause); cases with it: [Grumman G-164, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md?model=3952702), [All aircraft, 1,695 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md) - [Terrain: rough terrain](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021015): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome; cases with it: [Grumman G-164, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021015/cases.md?model=3952702), [All aircraft, 442 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021015/cases.md) - [Fluids: fuel](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010): Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware · Inadequate inspection (probable cause); cases with it: [Grumman G-164, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md?model=3952702), [All aircraft, 1,695 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md) - [Inspection: preflight inspection](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061510): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Grumman G-164, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061510/cases.md?model=3952702), [All aircraft, 551 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061510/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Prior to flight: Preflight or dispatch event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/030); cases with it: [Grumman G-164, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/030/sequence.md?model=3952702), [All aircraft, 355 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/030/sequence.md) - [Initial climb: Fuel exhaustion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192) (defining event); cases with it: [Grumman G-164, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192/sequence.md?model=3952702), [All aircraft, 804 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192/sequence.md) - [Initial climb: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341); cases with it: [Grumman G-164, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=3952702), [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096); cases with it: [Grumman G-164, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md?model=3952702), [All aircraft, 2,287 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md) ## Analysis Seconds after taking off for an aerial agricultural application flight, the airplane lost all engine power while about 15 feet above the ground. The pilot made a forced landing in a field and the airplane impacted a berm during the landing roll, nosed over, and came to rest in water. Recovery personnel reported finding little evidence of fuel in the area surrounding the airplane, and no fuel in the airplane's tanks. The pilot and operator reported that the airplane should have had 30 gallons of fuel on board during its last refueling, which occurred three application flights prior to the accident flight. The operator also reported that they did not keep fueling records of the individual fueling events when flying from remote locations and an exact amount could not be determined. The Federal Aviation Administration coordinator examined the engine and accessories. He reported finding no evidence of any preimpact mechanical malfunction. ## Factual narrative On May 5, 2008, about 1810 Pacific daylight time, a Grumman G-164, N703Y, experienced a total loss of engine power seconds after taking off from a grass airstrip about 4 miles north-northeast of Butte City, California. The airplane had reached an altitude about 15 feet above the ground when the commercial pilot heard a "pop" noise. The pilot made a forced landing on the field. During rollout, the airplane impacted a dirt berm, nosed over, and came to rest in shallow water. The airplane's fuselage and empennage were broken, and the airplane was substantially damaged. The agricultural application flight was commencing at the time of the mishap. Chuck Jones Flying Service, Inc., Biggs, California, owned and operated the airplane. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time. The flight was performed under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 137. The pilot reported to the National Transportation Safety Board investigator that, prior to the accident, the airplane had been operating normally. On the accident flight, the pilot was planning to seed a nearby field with rice when the engine suddenly lost all power. The accident was reported to the Safety Board investigator on May 12, 2008. At the direction of the Safety Board investigator, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) coordinator performed an examination of the engine. In summary, the crankshaft was rotated and "thumb" compression was found "satisfactory" in all cylinders. The magnetos were found correctly timed and produced spark upon rotation. The carburetor was found free of obstructions. According to the FAA coordinator, no evidence of any preimpact mechanical malfunction was found. In the pilot's completed "Aircraft Accident Report," he indicated that the airplane should have had 30 gallons of fuel on board during takeoff for the flight. According to the crew that recovered the airplane from the accident site, they were unable to confirm the presence of fuel in the tanks. Also, they did not smell fuel around the airplane, and very small amounts of fuel were observed in the standing, 6- to 12-inch-deep water around the airplane. The operator reported that the company does not keep fueling records of the individual fueling events when flying from remote locations. The airplane had flown on three application flights since its last refueling. There was no way of telling how much fuel was delivered during the last refueling. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N703Y](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N703Y-2011-03-16), registration cancelled 2011-03-16, S/N 269, built 1963 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: GRUMMAN G-164 - Registry model: [Grumman G-164](https://openairdocs.org/model/grumman-g-164) (registry code 3952702) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Pratt & Whitney R1340 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-r1340-series) (registry code 52016, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 269 - Airframe hours: 11591 - Engines: Pratt & Whitney R1340 AN1 600 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Aerial application, Part 137 - Operator: Chuck Jones Flying Service, Inc. - Registered owner: Chuck Jones Flying Service, Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, March 22, 2008, 34 hours before - Departed: NONE, Butte City, CA - Destination: NONE, Butte City, CA ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 53; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review May 8, 2007; seat: single; flight hours: 5,000 total, 7 in this make and model, 5,000 as pilot in command, 300 in the last 90 days, 120 in the last 30 days, 15 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: variable at 8 knots, gusting 10 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none ## 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 20080505838299A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20080505838299A), May 5, 2008: Scwzer G164, Butte City, CA, Substantial damage. (-23) On 05/08/2008 this office received a report of an incident involving N703Y, a G-164 serial number 269. The pilot reported that between 1700 and 1800 on… ## Other investigations on N703Y (4) 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 LAX82DA127](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX82DA127), Apr 7, 1982: Grumman G-164 (N703Y), Bakersfield, CA, substantial damage - [NTSB LAX80FVG32](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX80FVG32), Apr 20, 1980: Grumman G-164 (N703Y), Butte City, CA, substantial damage - [NTSB OAK77DVG37](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/OAK77DVG37), May 28, 1977: Grumman G-164 (N703Y), Gridley, CA, substantial damage - [NTSB OAK68D0247](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/OAK68D0247), Dec 14, 1967: Grumman G-164 (N703Y), Merced, CA, 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.