Pilot Debrief

Grumman G164 near Delaplaine, AR — 2017-06-14

Final reportCEN17LA230
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Date
2017-06-14
Location
Delaplaine, AR, USA
Aircraft
Grumman G164
Registration
N7501Z
Category
Airplane
Highest injury
Minor
Fatalities
0
Phase of flight
Approach

Probable cause

The loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion, which resulted in a forced landing on unsuitable terrain.

NTSB narrative

The commercial pilot was conducting an aerial application flight. He was approaching a rice field after loading product at the company base when the engine lost partial power. The pilot executed a forced landing into the rice field; the right main landing gear struck a levee, and the airplane flipped inverted, which resulted in substantial damage to the wings and fuselage. Examination of the wreckage did not reveal any mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane or engine and did not show any evidence of fuel. Although the top fuel tank was breached in the accident, the green grass around and underneath the wreckage did not show any evidence of fuel contamination or blight. It is likely that the engine lost power due to fuel exhaustion.

Analysis

Primary failure mode
Engine power loss
First missed decision gate
Pilot could have aborted the mission upon noticing engine power loss.

NTSB coding

Evidence available

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

Docket documents4

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