Tuesday, April 18, 2017

Loss of Engine Power (Partial): Grumman Schweizer G-164A, N9533; accident occurred April 17, 2017 in Palmer, Washington County, Kansas


Airplane at Accident Site. 

Accident Site Landing Gear Tracks Leading to Airplane. 

Cracked Cylinder. 

Closeup of Cracked Cylinder. 

Overhead Schematic of Accident Area. 

 
The National Transportation Safety Board did not travel to the scene of this accident.

Additional Participating Entity: 

Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office; Wichita, Kansas 

Aviation Accident Factual Report - National Transportation Safety Board: https://app.ntsb.gov/pdf


Investigation Docket - National Transportation Safety Board: https://dms.ntsb.gov/pubdms

http://registry.faa.gov/N9533

Location: Palmer, KS
Accident Number: CEN17LA163
Date & Time: 04/17/2017, 1145 CDT
Registration: N9533
Aircraft: GRUMMAN SCHWEIZER G-164
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Defining Event: Loss of engine power (partial)
Injuries: 1 None
Flight Conducted Under: Part 137: Agricultural 

On April 17, 2017, about 1145 central daylight time, a Grumman Schweizer G-164A airplane, N9533, sustained substantial damage during a forced landing after a loss of engine power in the vicinity of Palmer, Kansas. The commercial pilot was not injured. The airplane was registered to Hunninghake Aerial Spraying LLC, Baileyville, Kansas, and the aerial application flight was being conducted under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 137. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed throughout the area and a flight plan was not filed. The flight originated at 1030 from the pilot's private airstrip near Baileyville, Kansas.

According to the pilot, the aircraft was flying in a southerly direction over the application area when he heard a "pop" sound. The pilot then heard a louder "pop" sound, and the engine lost power. The pilot continued flying in a southerly direction about 1/3 of a mile before being forced to land. The pilot turned to the left to avoid a pasture fence and landed in a southeast direction in a newly planted wheat field. During the landing, the aircraft rolled over 5 terraces. Skid marks and numerous blade ground strikes where found at each terrace location. Ground scaring indicated that the propeller/engine separated from the aircraft before it spun 180° and came to a stop. The pilot exited the airplane uninjured. The right lower wing at the forward inboard spar and the engine firewall was found severely wrinkled. During the landing sequence, the hopper tank dump valve was opened and the herbicide chemical escaped.

Examination of the engine at the accident site revealed a crack on an engine cylinder located at the 3 o'clock position of the Pratt & Whitney 1340 radial engine. According to log book entries, airworthiness directive AD 99-00-02 visual inspection for cylinder cracks, was completed at the last annual inspection conducted on November 28, 2016, about 37.1 hours prior to the accident.

Pilot Information

Certificate: Commercial
Age: 30, Male
Airplane Rating(s): Single-engine Land
Seat Occupied: Single
Other Aircraft Rating(s): None
Restraint Used:
Instrument Rating(s): None
Second Pilot Present: No
Instructor Rating(s):None 
Toxicology Performed: No
Medical Certification: Class 2 Without Waivers/Limitations
Last FAA Medical Exam: 12/20/2016
Occupational Pilot: Yes
Last Flight Review or Equivalent:
Flight Time:  (Estimated) 1400 hours (Total, all aircraft), 190 hours (Total, this make and model), 2 hours (Last 24 hours, all aircraft)

Aircraft and Owner/Operator Information

Aircraft Make: GRUMMAN SCHWEIZER
Registration: N9533
Model/Series: G-164
Aircraft Category: Airplane
Year of Manufacture: 1973
Amateur Built: No
Airworthiness Certificate: Restricted
Serial Number:1188 
Landing Gear Type: Tailwheel
Seats: 1
Date/Type of Last Inspection: 11/28/2016, Annual
Certified Max Gross Wt.:
Time Since Last Inspection: 364 Hours
Engines: 1 Reciprocating
Airframe Total Time: 12020 Hours at time of accident
Engine Manufacturer: P&W
ELT: Not installed
Engine Model/Series: 1340-S3H1G
Registered Owner: Hunninghake Aerial Spraying LLC
Rated Power: 650 hp
Operator: Hunninghake Aerial Spraying LLC
Operating Certificate(s) Held: Agricultural Aircraft (137)
Operator Does Business As:
Operator Designator Code:  6HAG

Meteorological Information and Flight Plan

Conditions at Accident Site: Visual Conditions
Condition of Light: Day
Observation Facility, Elevation: CNK, 1487 ft msl
Distance from Accident Site: 25 Nautical Miles
Observation Time: 1055 CDT
Direction from Accident Site: 270°
Lowest Cloud Condition: Clear
Visibility:  10 Miles
Lowest Ceiling: None
Visibility (RVR):
Wind Speed/Gusts: 9 knots /
Turbulence Type Forecast/Actual: / None
Wind Direction: 110°
Turbulence Severity Forecast/Actual: / N/A
Altimeter Setting: 30.15 inches Hg
Temperature/Dew Point: 18°C / 11°C
Precipitation and Obscuration:
Departure Point: Baileyville, KS
Type of Flight Plan Filed: None
Destination: Palmer, KS
Type of Clearance: None
Departure Time: 1030 CDT
Type of Airspace: Class E

Wreckage and Impact Information

Crew Injuries:1 None 
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Passenger Injuries: N/A
Aircraft Fire: None
Ground Injuries:N/A 
Aircraft Explosion: None
Total Injuries: 1 None

Latitude, Longitude: 39.561944, -97.188056 (est)

NTSB Identification: CEN17LA163
14 CFR Part 137: Agricultural
Accident occurred Monday, April 17, 2017 in Palmer, KS
Aircraft: GRUMMAN ACFT ENG COR-SCHWEIZER G 164A, registration: N9533
Injuries: 1 Uninjured.

This is preliminary information, subject to change, and may contain errors. Any errors in this report will be corrected when the final report has been completed. NTSB investigators may not have traveled in support of this investigation and used data provided by various sources to prepare this aircraft accident report.

On April 17, 2017, about 1145 central daylight time, a Grumman G164A agricultural airplane, N9533, registered to Hunninghake Aerial Spraying LLC of Baileyville, Kansas, sustained substantial damage during a forced landing after a loss of engine power in the vicinity of Palmer, Kansas. The commercial pilot was not injured. The aerial application flight was being conducted under the provisions of Federal Code of Regulations Part 137. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed throughout the area and a flight plan was not filed. The flight originated at 1030 from the pilot's private airstrip near Baileyville, Kansas.

According to the pilot, the aircraft was flying in a southerly direction over the application area when he heard a "pop" sound, The pilot then heard a louder "pop" sound and the engine lost power. The pilot continued flying in a southerly direction about 1/3 of a mile before being forced to land. The pilot turned to the left to avoid a pasture fence and landed in a southeast direction in a newly planted wheat field. During the landing, the aircraft rolled over 5 terraces. Skid marks and numerous blade ground strikes where found at each terrace location. Ground scaring indicated that the propeller/engine separated from the aircraft before it spun 180 degrees and came to a stop. The pilot exited the airplane uninjured. The right lower wing at the forward inboard spar and the engine firewall was found severely wrinkled. During the landing sequence, the hopper tank dump valve was opened and the herbicide chemical escaped. 

Inspection of the engine at the accident site by an FAA inspector, revealed a crack on an engine cylinder located at the 3 o'clock position of the engine. According to log book entries, AD 99-00-02 visual inspection for cylinder cracks, was completed at the last annual inspection conducted on 11/28/2016, 37.1 hours prior to the accident.

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