# NTSB NYC96LA105: Grumman-Schweizer G-164A, N6620Q, Vineland, NJ, May 14, 1996 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: May 14, 1996, 09:45 local (13:45 UTC) - Place: Vineland, NJ - Location: 39.4862° N, 75.0257° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Vineland, NJ, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.4862&lon=-75.0257&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report December 10, 1996 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 39181 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC96LA105 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/39181/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC96LA105 ## Probable cause failure of the number 8 cylinder, which resulted in loss of engine power, a forced landing in soft terrain, and subsequent nose over of the airplane. ## 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, takeoff - initial climb - engine assembly,cylinder - failure (cause) - Forced landing, emergency landing after takeoff - Nose over, emergency landing - terrain condition - soft (contributing factor) ## Analysis After performing a number of previous aerial application flights, the airplane was loaded with a chemical pesticide, and the pilot initiated a takeoff from runway 20. Immediately after liftoff, the engine began missing, smoking, and backfiring violently. When the pilot was not able to maintain airspeed, he dropped the 207 gallons of pesticide, and made a forced landing straight ahead in a freshly plowed field. During the landing, the main gear sank into the topsoil, and the airplane nosed over. Examination of the engine revealed that the number eight cylinder head was cracked open from the forward spark plug boss to the rear spark plug boss, and the crack had progressed down to the cylinder barrel. ## Factual narrative On May 14, 1996, at 0945 eastern daylight time, a Grumman-Schweizer G164A-600, N6620Q, operated by Downtown Airport Inc., was substantially damaged during a forced landing after takeoff from the Vineland-Downtown Airport, Vineland, New Jersey. The commercial pilot was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the agriculture application flight that originated at the Vineland-Downtown Airport (28N). No flight plan had been filed for the flight conducted under 14 CFR Part 137. The pilot and airplane had flown 3 to 4 hours of application flights prior to the accident takeoff. The airplane was loaded with a chemical pesticide, and departed runway 20. In the NTSB Form 6120.1/2, the pilot stated that he departed 28N for an application flight. He further stated: "...Immediately after liftoff the engine began missing, smoking and backfiring violently. Not...able to maintain sufficient airspeed, I dropped the load (207 gallons of pesticide) and landed straight ahead in a freshly plowed field. The main gear sunk into the topsoil, and the aircraft nosed over..." Examination of the engine by a Federal Aviation Administration Inspector revealed: "...The #8 cylinder head was cracked open from the forward spark plug boss over the top of the head to the rear spark plug boss, and progressed down to the steel cylinder barrel. No other contributing causes could be substantiated during this investigation..." ## Aircraft - Registration: [N6620Q](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N6620Q), registered now, S/N 1693, built 1976 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Grumman-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: 1693 - Airframe hours: 2510 - Engines: P&W R-1340-AN-1 600 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Aerial application, Part 137 - Registered owner: Downtown Airport Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, January 17, 1996, 45 hours before - Departed: 28N - Airport: 28N, Vineland-Downtown, runway 20, 2,230 × 100 ft, grass/turf ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 41; airline transport, commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: center; flight hours: 6,073 total, 2,350 in this make and model, 5,024 as pilot in command, 43 in the last 90 days, 37 in the last 30 days, 7 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 350° at 6 knots - Visibility: 7 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 57 °F, dew point 19 °F - Observed at: PHL, 23 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 19960514010459A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19960514010459A), May 14, 1996: Scwzer G164A, Vineland, NJ, Substantial damage. Engine smoked backfired on takeoff. Dropped load. Nosed over landing plowed area. NR8 cylinder barrel cracked open. ## Other investigations on N6620Q (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 NYC06LA180](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC06LA180), Jul 23, 2006: Grumman G-164A (N6620Q), Vineland, NJ, substantial damage. Probable cause: A loss of engine power due to foreign object damage for undetermined reasons. Contributing to the accident was the furrowed field. - [NTSB ATL82FIG07](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL82FIG07), May 27, 1982: Grumman G-164A (N6620Q), Frederick, MD, substantial damage, 1 fatal 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.