# NTSB LAX08LA177: Grumman-Schweizer G-164B, N48571, Wilder, ID, June 13, 2008

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: June 12, 2008, 18:40 local (Jun 13, 2008, 00:40 UTC)
- Place: Wilder, ID
- Coordinates: 43.691665, -116.940277
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.6917&lon=-116.9403&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 1 minor
- Status: Completed, report August 28, 2008
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Parties: Federal Aviation Administration
- NTSB case key (mKey): 68221
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX08LA177
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/68221/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX08LA177

## Probable cause

The loss of engine power as a result of failure of the supercharger. Contributing to the accident was the lack of suitable terrain for the forced landing.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Terrain](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021000): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome (probable cause); cases with it: [Grumman Acft ENG Cor-Schweizer G-164B, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021000/cases.md?model=3952802), [All aircraft, 267 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021000/cases.md)
- [Engine (reciprocating): recip eng supercharger](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058560): Aircraft › Aircraft power plant · Failure (probable cause); cases with it: [Grumman Acft ENG Cor-Schweizer G-164B, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058560/cases.md?model=3952802), [All aircraft, 12 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058560/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) (defining event); cases with it: [Grumman Acft ENG Cor-Schweizer G-164B, 13 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=3952802), [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md)
- [Landing: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Grumman Acft ENG Cor-Schweizer G-164B, 21 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=3952802), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md)
- [Landing: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096); cases with it: [Grumman Acft ENG Cor-Schweizer G-164B, 19 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md?model=3952802), [All aircraft, 2,287 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md)

## Analysis

According to the pilot, he was applying fertilizer to a field of hops. After several passes over the field, a total engine failure occurred. The pilot was forced to land the airplane in a small onion field. The pilot said that after touchdown, he "forced the aircraft into the ground to avoid collision with a raised canal." The airplane made "one complete forward flip," which destroyed the tail section, and came to rest nose down. Following its recovery to the operator's facility, the airplane was examined by the pilot and a Federal Aviation Administration inspector. They noted metal chips and oil in the engine exhaust pipes and found all the spark plugs to be contaminated with oil. According to the pilot, these signatures were indicative of a supercharger failure.

## Factual narrative

On June 12, 2008, about 1840 mountain daylight time, a Grumman-Schweizer G-164B, N48571, sustained substantial damage when it nosed over during a forced landing following a loss of engine power near Wilder, Idaho. The commercial pilot, the sole occupant, sustained minor injuries. The airplane was registered to, and operated by, Carol's Flying Service of Wilder. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the local aerial application flight and no flight plan was filed. The flight was conducted under Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 137.

According to the pilot, he was applying fertilizer to a field of hops. After several passes over the field, a total engine failure occurred. The pilot was forced to land the airplane in a small onion field. After touchdown, the pilot "forced the aircraft into the ground to avoid collision with a raised canal." The airplane made "one complete forward flip," which destroyed the tail section, and came to rest nose down.

Following its recovery to the operator's facility, the airplane was examined by the pilot and a Federal Aviation Administration inspector. They noted metal chips and oil in the engine exhaust pipes and found all the spark plugs to be contaminated with oil. According to the pilot, these signatures were indicative of a supercharger failure.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N48571](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N48571-2009-09-25), registration cancelled 2009-09-25, S/N 82B, built 1976 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Grumman-Schweizer G-164B
- Registry model: [Grumman Acft ENG Cor-Schweizer G-164B](https://openairdocs.org/model/grumman-acft-eng-cor-schweizer-g-164b) (registry code 3952802) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Pratt & Whitney R-985 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-r-985-series) (registry code 52008, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 82B
- Airframe hours: 9308
- Engines: Pratt & Whitney R-985 450 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Aerial application, Part 137
- Registered owner: Carol's Flying Service, Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special)
- Last inspection: Annual, February 1, 2008
- Departed: Wilder, ID

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 39; injuries: minor; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review February 1, 2008; seat: single; flight hours: 9,478 total, 4,000 in this make and model, 9,382 as pilot in command, 80 in the last 90 days, 50 in the last 30 days, 14 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 64 °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 20080612834779A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20080612834779A), Jun 12, 2008: Scwzer G164, Wilder, ID, Substantial damage. (-23) While spreading granular crop additives to a farmers field at low altitude, the engine quit suddenly. The pilot elected to land the aircraft in the field…

## Other investigations on N48571 (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 SEA94LA193](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA94LA193), Jul 19, 1994: Grumman G-164B (N48571), Wilder, ID, substantial damage. Probable cause: THE FAILURE OF THE LEFT BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER AND THE PILOT'S INADEQUATE REMEDIAL ACTION WHEN THE AIRCRAFT COLLIDED WITH AN EMBANKMENT DURING AN INTENTIONAL GROUND LOOP.

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.

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