# NTSB WPR10LA413: Grumman Acft ENG Cor-Schweizer G-164B, N6607Q, Buckeye, AZ, August 19, 2010 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 19, 2010, 12:00 local (19:00 UTC) - Place: Buckeye, AZ - Coordinates: 33.281665, -112.504447 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.2817&lon=-112.5044&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Takeoff-rejected takeoff: Powerplant sys/comp malf/fail](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/340) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious - Status: Completed, report October 29, 2013 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: FAA FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 77014 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR10LA413 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/77014/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=77014 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR10LA413 ## Probable cause An increase in engine rpm and vibration, which resulted in an aborted takeoff and runway excursion. The reason for the increased engine rpm and vibration could not be determined because of postaccident fire damage. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Terrain: rough terrain](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021015): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Effect on equipment; cases with it: [Grumman Acft ENG Cor-Schweizer G-164B, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021015/cases.md?model=3952802), [All aircraft, 442 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021015/cases.md) - [Not determined](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000): Not determined › Not determined · Unknown/Not determined (probable cause); cases with it: [Grumman Acft ENG Cor-Schweizer G-164B, 11 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md?model=3952802), [All aircraft, 2,247 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Takeoff-rejected takeoff: Powerplant sys/comp malf/fail](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/340) (defining event); cases with it: [Grumman Acft ENG Cor-Schweizer G-164B, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/340/sequence.md?model=3952802), [All aircraft, 820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/340/sequence.md) - [Takeoff-rejected takeoff: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300); cases with it: [Grumman Acft ENG Cor-Schweizer G-164B, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=3952802), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot had flown the airplane about 4.2 hours on the date of the accident with no discrepancies noted. During the accident takeoff, the pilot noted normal acceleration, engine indications, and tail liftoff. After completing 2/3 of the takeoff roll, the engine rpm increased to 2,600-2,700 (the maximum allowable is 2,550 rpm). The pilot felt a moderate-to-severe vibration and immediately initiated procedures for an aborted takeoff. He retarded the throttle to idle, applied maximum braking, and held the control stick full aft. As the airplane slowed to 20-30 knots, he steered the airplane away from a fence at the end of the runway onto hard packed desert terrain. After rolling a short distance, the left main landing gear encountered a depression in the terrain and sheared off. The airplane settled onto the left wing and was almost immediately engulfed in fire. Fire consumed the cabin and inboard wing areas, as well as the aft section of the engine, which exposed the gears in the accessory section. Fire consumed all accessories, including both magnetos. A postaccident examination of the engine could not determine a reason for the increase in rpm and vibration due to fire damage. ## Factual narrative On August 19, 2010, about 1200 mountain standard time, a Grumman G-164B, N6607Q, collided with terrain during takeoff from a dirt strip near Buckeye, Arizona. Crawford Aviation Services was operating the airplane under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 137. The commercial pilot sustained serious injuries. The airplane sustained substantial damage from impact forces and a post-crash fire. The local aerial application flight was departing. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed. The pilot reported that he had flown the airplane about 4.2 hours on the date of the accident. The airplane was loaded with approximately 200 gallons (maximum capacity 315 gallons) of water and insecticide in the hopper, and 50 gallons of fuel (maximum 80 gallons). He detected no discrepancies during taxi or during the run up. He initiated takeoff on runway 16, and noted normal acceleration, engine indications, and tail liftoff. After completing 2/3 of the takeoff roll, the revolutions per minute (rpm) increased to 2,600-2,700 (maximum allowable 2,550). The pilot felt a moderate to severe vibration, and immediately initiated aborted takeoff procedures. He retarded the throttle to idle, applied maximum braking, and held the control stick full aft. As the airplane slowed to 20-30 knots, he elected to steer the airplane away from a fence made of railroad ties at the end of the runway onto hard packed desert adjoining the west edge of the runway. After rolling a short distance, the left main landing gear went into a depression and sheared off. The airplane settled onto the left wing, and was almost immediately engulfed in fire. The pilot egressed through the left window hatch with serious injuries. A National Transportation Safety Board investigator examined the wreckage. The report is in the public docket for this accident, and pertinent excerpts follow. The engine sustained fire damage to the aft section, which exposed the gears in the accessory section. Fire consumed all accessories, including both magnetos. The crankshaft rotated freely with manual rotation of the propeller; the magneto drive gears rotated. The investigator removed the spark plugs. Seven of the nine plugs had dark brown/black deposits, and the center electrodes were oval shaped. Two spark plugs were oil soaked. The investigator examined the cylinder bores with a lighted borescope. All piston crowns exhibited light brown deposits with no indication of piston to valve contact or catastrophic failure. The valves in the lower cylinders were oil soaked. The engine controls remained attached at their respective control quadrants. The governor control remained attached at the engine. The burnt remnants of the mixture and throttle control assemblies were located within the firewall with their connections still attached to the control cables. Outer cables were intact and continuous; fire damage and bends prevented continuity of internal linkage to thecabin. Fire consumed the airframe surfaces from the empennage to the firewall; both upper and lower wings were consumed from mid-wing span inboard. All ailerons were attached at their hinges. All empennage control surfaces were attached at their respective hinges. Fire consumed control surfaces in the cabin and inboard wing areas. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N6607Q](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N6607Q-2017-04-07), registration cancelled 2017-04-07, S/N 134B, built 1976 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: GRUMMAN ACFT ENG COR-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 R-985 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-r-985-series) (registry code 52008, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 139B - Engines: P&W R-1340 600 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Fire: On-Ground - Flight: Aerial application, Part 137 - Operator: Crawford Aviation Services - Registered owner: Crawford Aviation Services LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, August 13, 2010 - Departed: Buckeye, AZ - Destination: Buckeye, AZ ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 46; injuries: serious; airline transport, flight engineer, commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land, single-engine sea, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review April 24, 2010; seat: single; flight hours: 13,730 total, 886 in this make and model, 6,079 as pilot in command, 185 in the last 90 days, 137 in the last 30 days, 7 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 130° at 4 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 100 °F, dew point 63 °F - Altimeter: 29.80 inHg - Observed at: KBXK ## 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 20100819042229A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20100819042229A), Aug 19, 2010: Grumman Acf G-164B, Buckeye, AZ, Destroyed. On August 19, 2010, N6607Q, piloted by edwin clark crawford, certificate number [privacy data omitted], lost control during the take off ground roll. The pilot… ## Other investigations on N6607Q (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 LAX87DVA12](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX87DVA12), Sep 22, 1987: Grumman G164B (N6607Q), Buttonwillow, CA, substantial damage - [NTSB OAK78DVA16](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/OAK78DVA16), Dec 2, 1977: Grumman G-164B (N6607Q), Merced, CA, substantial damage ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 6, 2013, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=77014. 1.4 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 1.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40397030&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - NTSB Airframe and Engine Exam Notes (item 2, .PDF, 195 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40397031&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=NTSB%20Airframe%20and%20Engine%20Exam%20Notes-Master.PDF 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.