# NTSB MIA97LA190: Schweizer G-164B, N6816Q, Edwards, MS, June 20, 1997 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: June 20, 1997, 18:40 local (23:40 UTC) - Place: Edwards, MS - Coordinates: 32.329807, -90.600341 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.3298&lon=-90.6003&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report October 31, 1997 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 38293 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA97LA190 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/38293/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA97LA190 ## Probable cause failure of the distributor drive gear in the right magneto, resulting in loss of engine power and a forced landing. The lack of suitable terrain for a forced landing was a related factor. ## 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 - ignition system,magneto - failure,partial (cause) - Forced landing, emergency descent/landing - On ground/water collision with object, emergency landing - terrain condition - none suitable (contributing factor) - object - tree(s) ## Analysis The engine lost power as the pilot pulled up from an aerial application run. The pilot immediately made a forced landing in a field and was unable to stop the aircraft before it collided with trees at the end of the field. Postcrash examination of the engine showed the right magneto distributor drive gear had several gear teeth missing, and the gear would occasionally not drive the distributor. This caused the magneto to lose timing with the engine. The pilot said he did not have time to cycle the magneto switches before making a forced landing. ## Factual narrative On June 20, 1997, about 1840 central daylight time, a Schweizer G164B, N6816Q, registered to Grays Flying Service, Inc., collided with trees while making a forced landing following loss of engine power at Edwards, Mississippi, while on a Title 14 CFR Part 137 aerial application flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan was filed. The aircraft received substantial damage and the commercial-rated pilot was not injured. The flight originated from Edwards, the same day, about 1830. The pilot stated during pull-up after an application run, the engine lost power. He made a forced landing in a soybean field and could not stop before colliding with trees at the end of the field. Postcrash examination of the engine by an FAA inspector showed the right magneto had malfunctioned. The magneto was replaced and the engine was operated to full power with no further evidence of failure or malfunction. Examination of the right magneto showed the distributor drive gear had several gear teeth missing. The gear would not turn the distributor on occasion, causing the magneto to lose timing with the engine. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N6816Q](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N6816Q-2002-03-06), registration cancelled 2002-03-06, S/N 320B, built 1977 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: 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 R1340 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-r1340-series) (registry code 52016, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 320B - Airframe hours: 5510 - Engines: P&W R-985-14B 450 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Aerial application, Part 137 - Registered owner: Grays Flying Service, Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, March 3, 1997, 50 hours before - Departed: M16 ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 47; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: center; flight hours: 11,000 total, 5,000 in this make and model, 11,000 as pilot in command, 50 in the last 90 days, 45 in the last 30 days, 10 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: variable at 5 knots - Visibility: 9 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 88 °F, dew point 72 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: JAN, 21 nm away ## 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 19970620018449A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19970620018449A), Jun 20, 1997: Scwzer G164B, Edwards, MS, Substantial damage. On pullup from spray run engine quit. Landed in farm field. Overshort into trees. Right magneto drive gear failed. (-23) aircraft N6816Q had to make a forced… ## Other investigations on N6816Q (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 MIA01LA204](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA01LA204), Jul 31, 2001: Grumman-Schweizer G-164B (N6816Q), Edison, GA, substantial damage. Probable cause: Partial loss of engine power for undetermined reasons during takeoff resulting in the airplane descending, colliding with the ground, and nosing over. - [NTSB ATL94LA104](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL94LA104), May 20, 1994: Grumman G-164B (N6816Q), Memphis, TN, substantial damage. Probable cause: THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN CLEARANCE FROM THE EARTHEN DIKE DURING THE SWATH RUN. 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.