# NTSB SEA89LA115: Grumman-Schweizer G-164A, N9830, Battle Mountain, NV, June 21, 1989

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: June 21, 1989, 09:55 local (16:55 UTC)
- Place: Battle Mountain, NV
- Coordinates: 40.470542, -117.029006 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.4705&lon=-117.0290&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report August 2, 1990
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 41035
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA89LA115
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/41035/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA89LA115

## Probable cause

THE LOSS OF ENGINE POWER IN FLIGHT DUE TO A BROKEN NUMBER TWO ROCKER ARM. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE VEHICLE ON THE ROAD WHICH RESULTED IN THE PILOT FLARING PREMATURELY.

## 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,rocker arm/tappet - failure,total (cause)
- Forced landing, descent - emergency
- Loss of control - in flight, landing - flare/touchdown
  - object - vehicle (contributing factor)
  - flare - premature, pilot in command (cause)
- Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown
- Nose over, landing - roll

## Analysis

DURING CRUISE FLIGHT, THE ENGINE LOST POWER. THE PILOT INITIATED A FORCED LANDING ON A ROAD, FLARED HIGH TO AVOID IMPACT WITH A VEHICLE ON THE ROAD AND THE AIRCRAFT STALLED, RESULTING IN A HARD LANDING. THE AIRCRAFT IMPACTED A FENCE AND NOSED OVER INTO A DITCH. INSPECTION OF THE ENGINE REVEALED A BROKEN NUMBER TWO ROCKER ARM.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N9830](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N9830-2000-02-11), registration cancelled 2000-02-11, S/N 1257 (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)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 1257
- Airframe hours: 2948
- Engines: P&W R-1340-AN-1 600 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Ferry, Part 91
- Operator: Gaudry Ag Services, Inc.
- Registered owner: Gaudry Ag Services, Inc
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special)
- Last inspection: Annual, June 9, 1989, 5 hours before
- Departed: WMC, WINNEMUCCA, NV
- Destination: EKO, ELKO, NV

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 41; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: center; flight hours: 5,000 total, 19 in this make and model, 4,901 as pilot in command, 19 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 20° at 15 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 61 °F, dew point 10 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: BAM, 18 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 19890621016779A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19890621016779A), Jun 21, 1989: Scwzer G164A, Battle Mountain, NV, Substantial damage. Engine quit. Tried to land on freeway. Pulled up,stalled,and crashed avoiding vehicles. Cylinder rocker arm failed.

## Other investigations on N9830 (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 LAX95LA192](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX95LA192), May 19, 1995: Grumman G-164A (N9830), Colusa, CA, substantial damage. Probable cause: the pilot's misjudged flare height and timing, which resulted in an inadvertent stall and hard landing. Factors in the accident were the loss of engine power for undetermined reasons and the lack of…
- [NTSB FTW75FRD54](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW75FRD54), May 14, 1975: Grumman G-164A (N9830), Eunice, LA, substantial damage
- [NTSB CHI74FEA41](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI74FEA41), May 24, 1974: Grumman G-164A (N9830), Madison, IN, substantial damage

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.

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