# NTSB LAX87DVA12: Grumman G164B, N6607Q, Buttonwillow, CA, September 22, 1987

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Final report
- Date: September 22, 1987, 12:30 local (19:30 UTC)
- Place: Buttonwillow, CA
- Coordinates: 35.430778, -119.490631 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.4308&lon=-119.4906&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report February 24, 1989
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 25332
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX87DVA12
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/25332/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX87DVA12

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Loss of engine power(partial) - mech failure/malf, maneuvering - aerial application
  - engine assembly,connecting rod - failure,total (cause)
- Forced landing, descent - emergency
- Nose over, landing - roll
  - terrain condition - soft (contributing factor)

## Analysis

DURING AN AERIAL APPLICATION FLIGHT, AFTER PULLING OUT OF A PASS OVER A FIELD THE PLT HEARD A LOUD BANG FOLLOWED BY SEVERE ENGINE VIBRATION. THE ACFT LOST POWER AND THE PILOT MADE A FORCED LANDING IN A PLOWED FIELD. DURING THE LANDING ROLL THE ACFT NOSED OVER. EXAMINATION REVEALED THAT THE ENGINE HAD MULTIPLE ROD FAILURES, NUMBERS 1,2,3, AND 5.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N6607Q](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N6607Q-2017-04-07), registration cancelled 2017-04-07, S/N 134B, built 1976 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: GRUMMAN G164B
- 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: 134B
- Airframe hours: 33765
- Engines: P&W R-1340-AN1 600 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Aerial application, Part 137
- Operator: Vittleston, Alan
- Registered owner: Vince Crop Dusters Inc
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special)
- Last inspection: Annual, August 29, 1987, 531 hours before
- Departed: BUTTONWILLOW, CA

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 38; private, commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: center; flight hours: 19,444 total, 16,000 in this make and model, 19,438 as pilot in command, 200 in the last 90 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 0° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 6 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 91 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: BFL

## 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 19870922054349A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19870922054349A), Sep 22, 1987: Scwzer G164B, Button Willow, CA, Substantial damage. Engine threw a rod during a spray run. Nosed over on the forced landing.

## Other investigations on N6607Q (2)

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 WPR10LA413](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR10LA413), Aug 19, 2010: Grumman Acft ENG Cor-Schweizer G-164B (N6607Q), Buckeye, AZ, substantial damage. Probable cause: An increase in engine rpm and vibration, which resulted in an aborted takeoff and runway excursion. The reason for the increased engine rpm and vibration could not be determined because of…
- [NTSB OAK78DVA16](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/OAK78DVA16), Dec 2, 1977: Grumman G-164B (N6607Q), 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.

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