# NTSB LAX94LA019: Schweizer G-164B, N7501K, Arvin, CA, October 19, 1993 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: October 19, 1993, 13:50 local (20:50 UTC) - Place: Arvin, CA - Coordinates: 35.079963, -118.790954 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.0800&lon=-118.7910&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report August 1, 1994 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 28574 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX94LA019 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/28574/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX94LA019 ## Probable cause the loss of 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, takeoff - roll/run - reason for occurrence undetermined (cause) - On ground/water collision with object, takeoff - roll/run - object - fence ## Analysis THE PILOT WAS BEGINNING A LOCAL AERIAL APPLICATION FLIGHT. DURING THE TAKEOFF ROLL FROM THE 2300 FOOT LONG PRIVATELY OWNED DIRT AIRSTRIP, THE AIRPLANE ENGINE BEGAN TO LOSE POWER AND SHAKE VIOLENTLY. THE PILOT JETTISONED THE CHEMICALS AND ABORTED THE TAKEOFF. THE REMAINING RUNWAY, HOWEVER, WAS INSUFFICIENT AND THE AIRPLANE OVERRAN THE DEPARTURE END OF THE RUNWAY AND COLLIDED WITH A CHAIN LINK FENCE. THE ENGINE EXAMINATION DISCLOSED NO EVIDENCE OF ANY PRE-EXISTING MALFUNCTIONS OR FAILURES. ## Factual narrative On October 19, 1993, at 1350 Pacific daylight time, a Grumman G-164B, N7501K, lost engine power, hit a chain link fence, and ground looped while taking off from a privately owned airstrip near Arvin, California. The pilot was beginning a local visual flight rules aerial application flight conducted under Title 14 CFR Part 137. The airplane, operated by San Joaquin Helicopters, Delano, California, and the chain link fence sustained substantial damage. The certificated commercial pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. The pilot reported that during the takeoff roll the engine began to lose power and shake violently when it was about two-thirds down the 2300 foot long runway and started to shake violently. The pilot jettisoned the chemical load before exiting the runway environment and colliding with the fence. An engine examination was conducted on December 2, 1993, at the operators facility. Mr. Gregory Minarik, Aviation Safety Inspector, Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Fresno [California] Flight Standards District Office, supervised the examination. Inspector Minarik reported that the examination disclosed no evidence of any pre-existing malfunctions or failures. (See Inspector Minarik's Engine Teardown Memorandum, herein this report, for further details of the examination). ## Aircraft - Registration: [N7501K](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N7501K), registered now, S/N 802B (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: SCHWEIZER G-164B - Registry model: [Schweizer G-164B](https://openairdocs.org/model/schweizer-g-164b) (registry code 8059055) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Pratt & Whitney R1340 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-r1340-series) (registry code 52016, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 802B - Airframe hours: 3095 - Engines: P&W R-1340 AN-1 600 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Aerial application, Part 137 - Registered owner: San Joaquin Helicopters - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special) - Last inspection: 100 hour, August 27, 1993, 122 hours before - Airport: Private, runway 27, 2,365 × 75 ft, dirt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 38; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: front; flight hours: 5,880 total, 580 in this make and model, 5,750 as pilot in command, 310 in the last 90 days, 90 in the last 30 days, 8 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 270° at 2 knots - Visibility: 30 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 72 °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 19931019039789A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19931019039789A), Oct 19, 1993: Scwzer G164B, Arvin, CA, Substantial damage. Reported rough engine on takeoff. Ran into chain link fence off end runway. No engine anomalies found. ## Other investigations on N7501K (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 LAX91LA362](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX91LA362), Aug 19, 1991: Schweizer G164B (N7501K), Verona, CA, substantial damage. Probable cause: THE PILOT'S IMPROPER PLANNING/DECISION TO DEPART FROM A RUNWAY WITH HIGH VEGETATION ALONG THE EDGE AND SUBSEQUENT COLLISION WITH TERRAIN. 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.