Thursday, June 15, 2017

Gulfstream Schweizer G-164C (Grumman Ag-Cat), N7501Z: Accident occurred June 14, 2017 in Delaplaine and Accident occurred June 19, 2014 in Beech Grove, Greene County, Arkansas

Airplane Wreckage at the Accident Site Side View. 

Airplane Wreckage at the Accident Site Rear View. 


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

Additional Participating Entity:

Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office; Little Rock, Arkansas

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/N7501Z

Location: Delaplaine, AR
Accident Number: CEN17LA230
Date & Time: 06/14/2017, 1820 CDT
Registration: N7501Z
Aircraft: Grumman G164
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Defining Event: Loss of engine power (partial)
Injuries: 1 Minor
Flight Conducted Under: Part 137: Agricultural 

On June 14, 2017, about 1820 central daylight time, a Grumman G164 agricultural airplane, N7501Z, was substantially damaged following a forced landing after a partial loss of engine power near Delaplaine, Arkansas. The commercial pilot sustained minor injuries. The airplane was registered to HDS Inc., of Beech Grove, Arkansas, and operated by Kin-Co Ag Aviation Inc., of Beech Grove, Arkansas, as a local agricultural flight under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 137. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and a company flight plan was filed. The flight originated at 1800 from the operator's private airstrip located in Delaplaine, Arkansas.

The pilot reported that he was en route to spray a rice field after loading chemicals at the company base. While approaching the field, the engine was not producing full power. The pilot elected to executed a forced landing into a rice field. As the airplane landed in the field, the right main landing gear struck a levee, and the airplane flipped inverted, resulting in substantial damage to the wings and fuselage. There were no witnesses to the accident.

Examination of the wreckage by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector did not reveal any mechanical anomalies with the airplane or engine and did not show any evidence of fuel. Although the top fuel tank was breached in the accident, fresh green grass around and underneath the wreckage did not show any evidence of fuel contamination, or blight.

Pilot Information

Certificate: Commercial
Age: 51, Male
Airplane Rating(s): Single-engine Land
Seat Occupied: Single
Other Aircraft Rating(s): None
Restraint Used:
Instrument Rating(s): Airplane
Second Pilot Present:No 
Instructor Rating(s): None
Toxicology Performed: No
Medical Certification: Class 2 With Waivers/Limitations
Last FAA Medical Exam: 01/19/2017
Occupational Pilot: Yes
Last Flight Review or Equivalent:
Flight Time:  5000 hours (Total, all aircraft), 1270 hours (Total, this make and model), 3 hours (Last 24 hours, all aircraft)

Aircraft and Owner/Operator Information

Aircraft Make: Grumman
Registration: N7501Z
Model/Series: G164 C
Aircraft Category: Airplane
Year of Manufacture:1979 
Amateur Built: No
Airworthiness Certificate: Restricted
Serial Number:42C 
Landing Gear Type:Tailwheel 
Seats: 1
Date/Type of Last Inspection: 03/02/2017, Annual
Certified Max Gross Wt.:
Time Since Last Inspection:
Engines: Turbo Prop
Airframe Total Time: 3109 Hours as of last inspection
Engine Manufacturer: Honeywell
ELT: Not installed
Engine Model/Series:TPE331 
Registered Owner: Hds Inc
Rated Power: 650 hp
Operator: KIN-CO AG Aviation Inc
Operating Certificate(s) Held: Agricultural Aircraft (137)
Operator Does Business As:
Operator Designator Code: NOSG

Meteorological Information and Flight Plan

Conditions at Accident Site: Visual Conditions
Condition of Light: Day
Observation Facility, Elevation: ARG, 279 ft msl
Distance from Accident Site: 11 Nautical Miles
Observation Time: 1835 CDT
Direction from Accident Site: 180°
Lowest Cloud Condition:Clear 
Visibility:  10 Miles
Lowest Ceiling: None
Visibility (RVR):
Wind Speed/Gusts: 3 knots /
Turbulence Type Forecast/Actual: / None
Wind Direction: 100°
Turbulence Severity Forecast/Actual: 
Altimeter Setting: 29.92 inches Hg
Temperature/Dew Point: 23°C / 21°C
Precipitation and Obscuration:
Departure Point: Delaplaine, AR
Type of Flight Plan Filed:
Destination: Delaplaine, AR
Type of Clearance: None
Departure Time: 1800 CDT
Type of Airspace: Class E

Wreckage and Impact Information

Crew Injuries: 1 Minor
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Passenger Injuries: N/A
Aircraft Fire: None
Ground Injuries:N/A 
Aircraft Explosion:None 
Total Injuries: 1 Minor
Latitude, Longitude: 36.219444, -90.731389 (est)

NTSB Identification: CEN17LA230 
14 CFR Part 137: Agricultural
Accident occurred Wednesday, June 14, 2017 in Delaplaine, AR
Aircraft: GULFSTREAM SCHWEIZER A/C CORP GULFSTREAM AM G 164C, registration: N7501Z
Injuries: 1 Minor.

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 June 14, 2017, about 1820 central daylight time, an Air Tractor AT64C agricultural airplane, N7501Z, registered to HDS Inc., of Beech Grove, Arkansas, and operated by Kin-Co Ag Aviation Inc., of Beech Grove, Arkansas, was substantially damaged following a forced landed after a loss of engine power near Delaplaine, Arkansas. The commercial pilot sustained minor injuries. The local agricultural flight was being operated under the provisions of Federal Code of Regulations Part 137. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and a company flight plan was filed. The flight originated at 1800 from the operators private airstrip located in Delaplaine, Arkansas.

The pilot reported that he was enroute to spray a rice field after loading chemicals at the company base. While approaching the field, the engine was not making full power. The pilot elected to executed a forced landing into a rice field. As the airplane landed in the field, the right main landing gear struck a levee and the airplane flipped inverted, resulting in substantial damage to the wings and fuselage. There were no witness to the accident. 


Initial examination of the wreckage by and FAA inspector, did not reveal any anomalies. The airplane wreckage was transported to Dawson Aviation, Clinton, Arkansas, for further examination.

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

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

Aviation Accident Data Summary - National Transportation Safety Board: https://app.ntsb.gov/pdf


NTSB Identification: CEN14LA308
14 CFR Part 137: Agricultural
Accident occurred Thursday, June 19, 2014 in Beech Grove, AR
Probable Cause Approval Date: 01/12/2015
Aircraft: GULFSTREAM SCHWEIZER A/C CORP GULFSTREAM AM G 164C, registration: N7501Z
Injuries: 1 Uninjured.

NTSB investigators may not have traveled in support of this investigation and used data provided by various sources to prepare this aircraft accident report.

The pilot reported that the airplane took off with a quartering tailwind of about 10 to 15 mph. The takeoff was normal; however, shortly after lifting off, the airplane began to settle back toward the ground. The pilot started to dump the fertilizer load, but the airplane subsequently descended to the ground and then hit a rice levee. The pilot reported no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. He noted that the accident might have been prevented if he had paid closer attention to the density altitude; the density altitude was calculated to be 2,205 feet, which would have increased the airplane’s ground roll and decreased its climb performance.

The National Transportation Safety Board determines the probable cause(s) of this accident as follows:
The pilot’s inadequate preflight planning, which resulted in his attempt to take off with insufficient climb performance to climb out of ground effect in the high-density altitude conditions. 

On June 19, 2014, about 1200 central daylight time, a Gulfstream Schweizer G-164C (Grumman Ag-Cat) airplane, N7501Z, was substantially damaged when it impacted terrain after takeoff from a private airstrip near Beech Grove, Arkansas. The pilot was not injured. The airplane was registered to and operated by HDS Inc. under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 137 as an aerial application flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the flight, which was not operated on a flight plan. The local flight was originating at the time of the accident.

The pilot reported he took off to the north from a 2,500-foot long asphalt runway, with 2,500 lbs. of fertilizer on-board. He added that there was a south wind from about 220 degrees at 10 to 15 miles per hour. The takeoff was normal; however, shortly after lifting off, the airplane began to settle back toward the ground. The pilot started to dump the fertilizer load, but he was unable to recover. The airplane subsequently settled onto the ground and encountered a rice levee. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the wings. The pilot noted that the accident might have been prevented by paying closer attention to density altitude.

The accident airplane was powered by a 600-shaft horsepower Garrett model TPE-331-10 turboprop engine. The maximum gross weight for the airplane was 8,625 lbs. The pilot reported that the airplane weight at the time of the accident takeoff was 7,125 lbs. He stated that there were no mechanical failures or malfunctions associated with the airplane prior to the accident. 

Weather conditions recorded at the Jonesboro Municipal Airport (JBR), located about 20 miles south of the accident site, at 1153, were: wind from 230 degrees at 8 knots; scattered clouds at 3,200 feet agl, scattered clouds at 3,900 feet agl; 10 miles visibility, temperature 30.0 degrees Celsius, dew point 22.2 degrees Celsius, altimeter 30.11 inches of mercury. The associated station pressure was 29.81 inches of mercury. The calculated density altitude was 2,205 feet.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Pilot's Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge (FAA-H-8083-25A) noted that density altitude represents pressure altitude corrected for nonstandard temperature. A decrease in air density corresponds with an increase in density altitude and a decrease in airplane performance. Density altitude is used in calculating airplane performance. The handbook also noted the effect of wind on takeoff distance is large, requiring proper consideration on takeoff performance. A tailwind of 10-percent of the takeoff airspeed will increase the takeoff distance approximately 21-percent.

No comments:

Post a Comment