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NTSB Report

June 2, 1994 · Grumman G-164A · N8939H

Muskegon, MI

Overview

Report Status
Final with probable cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
June 2, 1994
Injury Outcomes
No injuries (1 uninjured)
Location
Muskegon, MI
Aircraft
Grumman G-164A
Tail Number
N8939H
Operator
Maurice S Flying Service
Injuries
None
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
CHI94DEM01

THE AERIAL APPLICATION FLIGHT HAD COMPLETED ONE PASS OVER A FIELD AND WAS MAKING A CLIMBING TURN IN PREPARATION FOR A SECOND SWATH RUN. DURING THE CLIMBING TURN THE PILOT REPORTED THE ENGINE QUIT WITH A LOUD BANG WHILE OVER A LAKE NEXT TO THE AREA BEING SPRAYED. THE PILOT SAID HE TURNED TOWARD SHORE AND RAPIDLY DECELERATED. HE SAID HE PITCHED THE AIRPLANE DOWN TO KEEP IT FROM STALLING. THE AIRPLANE DESCENDED IN A STEEP NOSE DOWN ATTITUDE UNTIL REACHING AN ALTITUDE AT WHICH THE PILOT FLARED THE AIRPLANE FOR LANDING. AFTER LANDING IN THE WATER THE AIRPLANE NOSED OVER AND SANK. THE ON-SCENE INVESTIGATION REVEALED THE TURBOPROP ENGINE'S COMBUSTION CHAMBER HAD RUPTURED AND THAT IT DID NOT HAVE A NEGATIVE TORQUE SENSING SYSTEM THAT WOULD ALLOW THE PROPELLER TO FEATHER WHEN THE ENGINE FAILED. THE AIRPLANE WAS NOT EQUIPPED WITH A MANUAL PROPELLER FEATHERING SYSTEM.

NTSB Probable Cause

THE PROPELLER NOT BEING ABLE TO BE FEATHERED BY THE PILOT, INADEQUATE ALTITUDE FOR A SUCCESSFUL FORCED LANDING, AND THE FAILURE OF THE COMBUSTION SECTION. A FACTOR ASSOCIATED WITH THIS ACCIDENT WAS THE STALL/MUSH ENCOUNTERED BY THE PILOT DUE TO THE WINDMILLING PROPELLER'S DISC DRAG AND RAPID DECELERATION OF THE AIRPLANE.

Full Narrative

On June 2, 1994, at 0610 eastern standard time, a Grumman G-164A, N8939H, registered to Maurice's Flying Service, Incorporated, of Lakeview, Michigan, and piloted by a commercially certificated pilot, was substantially damaged during a collision with water after a pilot reported engine failure. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The 14 CFR Part 137 flight was not operating on a flight plan. The pilot reported no injuries. The flight departed Lakeview, Michigan, at 0540 est. The pilot stated he surveyed a site for aerial application at the Muskegon State Park, Muskegon, Michigan. The park is located on the northwest side of Muskegon Lake. He said he made one pass from the west to east, pulled up and turned left over the lake. At 400 feet above the lake, and about one-quarter mile from shore, the engine quit with a loud bang. The pilot said he set up a glide toward the shore of the park. He said he was thrown forward into the seat belts by sudden deceleration because the airplane seemed to stop in midair. The pilot said he pushed the nose down to keep from stalling. He said the airplane descended at a steep nose down attitude until he flared just above the water. The airplane hit the water, nosed over on its back and sank in about ten feet of water. Post accident investigation revealed a ruptured combustion plenum chamber. This airplane was modified with an STC that allowed a turboprop engine to be installed on its airframe. The airplane's owner said that the STC did not incorporate a negative torque sensor to allow the prop to feather when the engine failed. Without the negative torque sensor installed the propeller governor would try to maintain the engine at 2,000 RPM by decreasing the propeller blade's pitch to the minimum stop. The airplane was not equipped with a manual propeller feathering system. According to the airplane's owner, N8939H was not equipped with a fuel shut off system that, when activated, would feather the propeller.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time07:10 EDT
Nearest Airport0nm
Runway0
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftGrumman G-164A
Tail NumberN8939H
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageSubstantial
OperatorMaurice S Flying Service
Operating RulePart 137
Engines1
Engine TypeTurboprop
Engine DetailsGarrett · TPE-331-1-101 · Turboprop · 665
Seats1

People & Injuries

Injury SummaryNo injuries (1 uninjured)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured1
Total1
Crew 1Age 48 · Second Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind10° @ 7 kt
Visibility12 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point45 C / 28 C
Altimeter30.00 inHg
Observation Time11:20
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data