# NTSB SEA03LA086: Grumman G-164B, N3629E, Basin City, WA, May 16, 2003 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: May 16, 2003, 13:00 local (20:00 UTC) - Place: Basin City, WA - Coordinates: 46.590831, -119.212776 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=46.5908&lon=-119.2128&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report June 30, 2004 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Spokane FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 57075 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA03LA086 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/57075/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA03LA086 ## Probable cause The failure of the torque sensor idler gear duplex bearing during agricultural aerial application, resulting in a total power loss and a forced landing. Factors include tall wheat and soft terrain. ## 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, maneuvering - aerial application - engine assembly,bearing - failure (cause) - Forced landing, emergency descent/landing - In flight collision with terrain/water, emergency landing - terrain condition - high vegetation (contributing factor) - terrain condition - soft (contributing factor) - Nose over, emergency landing ## Analysis The pilot had just executed a reversal turn in order to start another spraying swath when the turbine engine suddenly stopped and the propeller feathered. He attempted to land on a road near the edge of the field he was spraying, but a tractor was on the road so he had to land in a crop of tall wheat. Just before touchdown, one of the aircraft's wings impacted the terrain, and during the landing roll on the soft terrain, the aircraft nosed over. During a post-accident teardown inspection it was determined that the torque sensor idler gear duplex bearing (part number 3103035-1) had failed, which is a condition that would normally result in an uncommanded in-flight shutdown of the engine. Further inspection of the bearing revealed only minimal heat stress discoloration and no clear lack of lubrication, but the bearing balls had been worn undersize, and the bearing cage had fractured into pieces. Further inspection of the bearing by Honeywell Mechanical Systems, revealed that the bearing condition was consistent with advanced rolling contact fatigue failure. As part of the investigation, an FAA Airworthiness Inspector determined that, "The installation of the subject matched bearing set was performed properly by the last overhaul shop in accordance with the Allied-Signal (Honeywell) Overhaul Specification No. 72-00-17, revised July 20, 1992." Although the reason for the unexpected failure of this bearing after approximately 100 hours of operation could not be determined, it was noted that at the last overhaul, the Torque Sensor was not upgraded to the available -3 bearing, which uses a larger bearing assembly and a different gear set. ## Factual narrative On May 16, 2003, approximately 1300 Pacific daylight time, a Grumman G-164B, N3629E, nosed over during a forced landing in a wheat field about five miles west of Basin City, Washington. The commercial pilot, who was the sole occupant, was not injured, but the aircraft, which is owned by Haley's Flying Service, and leased by the pilot, sustained substantial damage. The 14 CFR Part 137 agricultural application flight, which departed a local agricultural airstrip about 15 minutes before the accident, was being operated in visual meteorological conditions. According to the pilot, who failed to return an NTSB Form 6120.1/2, he had just executed a reversal turn in order to start another spraying swath when the turbine engine suddenly stopped and the propeller feathered. He attempted to land on a road near the edge of the field he was spraying, but a tractor was on the road so he had to land in a crop of tall wheat. Just before touchdown, one of the aircraft's wings impacted the terrain, and during the landing roll on the soft terrain, the aircraft nosed over. During a post-accident teardown inspection it was determined that the torque sensor idler gear duplex bearing (part number 3103035-1) had failed, which is a condition that would normally result in an uncommanded in-flight shutdown of the engine. Further inspection of the bearing revealed only minimal heat stress discoloration and no clear lack of lubrication, but the bearing balls had been worn undersize, and the bearing cage had fractured into pieces. Further inspection of the bearing by Honeywell Mechanical Systems, reveled that the bearing condition was consistent with advanced rolling contact fatigue failure. As part of the investigation, an FAA Airworthiness Inspector from the Portland, Oregon, Flight Standards District Office determined that, "The installation of the subject matched bearing set was performed properly by the last overhaul shop in accordance with the Allied-Signal (Honeywell) Overhaul Specification No. 72-00-17, revised July 20, 1992." Although the reason for the unexpected failure of this bearing after approximately 100 hours of operation could not be determined, it was noted that at the last overhaul the Torque Sensor was not upgraded to the available -3 bearing, which uses a larger bearing assembly and a different gear set. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N3629E](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N3629E-2023-05-16), registration cancelled 2023-05-16, S/N 744B (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Grumman G-164B - Registry model: [Schweizer G-164B](https://openairdocs.org/model/schweizer-g-164b) (registry code 8059055) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 744B - Engines: Garrett-AiResearch TPE-331-2-201 715 horsepower turbo prop - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Aerial application, Part 137 - Operator: Daniel Alan Faunce, doing business as Faunce Air - Registered owner: Haley's Flying Service - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special) - Departed: Basin City, WA ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 50; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: front; flight hours: 15,000 total, 100 in the last 90 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 70 °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 20030516010879A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20030516010879A), May 16, 2003: Scwzer G164B, Basin, WA, Substantial damage. (-23) The pilot had been flying this aircraft since 6:10 am never shutting the engine off for loading. On this run at 12:45, he had begun to spray a new field… ## Other investigations on N3629E (3) 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 WPR18LA113](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR18LA113), Mar 27, 2018: Schweizer G 164B (N3629E), Stockton, CA, substantial damage, 1 fatal. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to maintain clearance with power lines while maneuvering during an aerial application flight. - [NTSB LAX00LA278](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX00LA278), Jul 26, 2000: Schweizer G-164B (N3629E), Tracy, CA, substantial damage. Probable cause: A loss of engine power for undetermined reasons. - [NTSB LAX94LA213](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX94LA213), May 8, 1994: Schweizer G-164B (N3629E), Gridley, CA, substantial damage. Probable cause: a loss of engine power due to a cracked engine cylinder head. 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.