# NTSB LAX95LA126: Schweizer G-164A, N5450, Robbins, CA, March 4, 1995 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: March 4, 1995, 11:30 local (19:30 UTC) - Place: Robbins, CA - Location: 38.8669° N, 121.7071° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Robbins, CA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.8669&lon=-121.7071&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report September 24, 1995 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 29049 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX95LA126 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/29049/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX95LA126 ## Probable cause A failure of the engine master rod. A factor in the accident was the soft, wet condition of the field available for the forced landing. ## 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, cruise - normal - engine assembly,master rod - failure,total (cause) - Forced landing, emergency descent/landing - Nose over, landing - roll - terrain condition - soft (contributing factor) ## Analysis THE PILOT SAID THE ENGINE QUIT AND HE LANDED IN THE ONLY AVAILABLE FIELD, WHICH WAS SOFT AND WET. DURING THE GROUND ROLL, THE AIRCRAFT NOSED OVER. SUBSEQUENT EXAMINATION OF THE ENGINE REVEALED A HOLE IN THE ENGINE CASE NEAR THE NUMBER 5 CYLINDER SKIRT. DISASSEMBLY OF THE ENGINE DISCLOSED THAT THE MASTER ROD HAD FAILED. ## Factual narrative On March 4, 1995, at 1130 Pacific standard time, a Schweizer G- 164A, N5450, nosed over during an attempted forced landing in a plowed field near Robbins, California. The forced landing was precipitated by a loss of engine power while the aircraft was en route to spray a field. The aircraft was owned and operated by Tolles Flying Service, Inc., of Yuba City, California, and was engaged in aerial application operations under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 137 of the Federal Aviation Regulations. The aircraft incurred substantial damage. The certificated commercial pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured. The flight originated from a private airstrip near Wagner, California, on the day of the accident at 1115. According to the pilot, after the engine quit he landed in the only available field, which was soft and wet. During the ground roll, the aircraft nosed over. Subsequent examination of the engine revealed a hole in the engine case near the number 5 cylinder skirt. Disassembly by the operator disclosed that the master rod had failed. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N5450](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N5450), registered now, S/N 1160 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: SCHWEIZER G-164A - Registry model: [Grumman Acft ENG Cor-Schweizer G-164A](https://openairdocs.org/model/grumman-acft-eng-cor-schweizer-g-164a) (registry code 3952801) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Pratt & Whitney R1340 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-r1340-series) (registry code 52016, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 1160 - Airframe hours: 9797 - Engines: P&W R-1340 600 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Aerial application, Part 137 - Registered owner: Tolles Flying Service, Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special) - Last inspection: 100 hour, January 18, 1995, 65 hours before - Departed: CA18, CA ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 43; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: center; flight hours: 5,350 total, 1,500 in this make and model, 5,300 as pilot in command, 103 in the last 90 days, 80 in the last 30 days, 5 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 180° at 5 knots - Visibility: 20 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 18,000 ft broken - Temperature: 57 °F, dew point 43 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg ## 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 19950304003109A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19950304003109A), Mar 4, 1995: Scwzer G164A, Robbins, CA, Substantial damage. Lost power en route to spray area. Landed soft soil. Nosed over. Hole in engine case near NR5 cylinder. Rod failure ## Other investigations on N5450 (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 WPR23LA305](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR23LA305), Aug 6, 2023: Grumman Acft ENG Cor-Schweizer G-164A (N5450), Davis, CA, substantial damage, 1 fatal. Probable cause: An inflight loss of control during a low altitude operation for undetermined reasons. 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.