Pilot Debrief

GRUMMAN G-164A near Fergus Falls, MN — 2012-07-20

Final reportCEN12LA491
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Date
2012-07-20
Location
Fergus Falls, MN, USA
Aircraft
GRUMMAN G-164A
Registration
N4638
Category
Airplane
Highest injury
None
Fatalities
0
Phase of flight
Maneuvering

Probable cause

A total loss of engine power due to a cracked No. 2 cylinder head.

NTSB narrative

The pilot was spraying a large corn field when he saw a puff of white smoke come from the engine. He turned toward a road, but about half way through the turn, the engine lost all power. The pilot jettisoned the chemical load and landed in the corn field. Examination of the radial engine revealed the No. 2 cylinder head was cracked. A review of the maintenance logbooks revealed that a mandatory Federal Aviation Administration Airworthiness Directive that required a 100-hour visual inspection to prevent cylinder head cracking, had been complied with at the last annual inspection, but no entries were made that any cracks were observed.

Analysis

Primary failure mode
Engine power loss
First missed decision gate
Inspection of engine cylinder heads for cracks could have prevented the failure.

NTSB coding

Evidence available

  • 2 docket documents
View NTSB final reportView NTSB docket

Docket documents2

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