Pilot Debrief

GRUMMAN ACFT ENG COR-SCHWEIZER G-164 near Laurel, DE — 2016-07-02

Final reportERA16LA242
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Date
2016-07-02
Location
Laurel, DE, USA
Aircraft
GRUMMAN ACFT ENG COR-SCHWEIZER G-164
Registration
N6781K
Category
Airplane
Highest injury
None
Fatalities
0
Phase of flight
Maneuvering

Probable cause

A total loss of engine power due to an encounter with a bird, which collided with the spray pump fan assembly and subsequently sent blade fragments into the engine compartment, damaging the throttle linkage.

NTSB narrative

The commercial pilot was completing the last pass of an aerial application flight between 20 and 60 ft above the ground when he heard a "loud bang" followed by a loss of engine power. He turned the airplane into the wind and set up for a forced landing in a corn field. The airplane landed on the corn and soft soil and nosed over, resulting in structural damage to the upper wing, vertical stabilizer, and rudder. Examination revealed that a bird struck the spray pump fan assembly, shattering the blades and sending blade fragments through the lower engine cowling. The blade fragments struck the engine throttle linkage, bending and rotating it to the idle/cutoff position, which resulted in the total loss of engine power.

Analysis

Primary failure mode
Engine power loss
First missed decision gate
Pilot could have chosen to land in a different area before engine failure.

NTSB coding

Evidence available

  • Photos
  • 4 docket documents
View NTSB final reportView NTSB docket

Docket documents4

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