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NTSB Report

May 18, 2000 · Grumman G-164A · N5335

Biggs, CA

Overview

Report Status
Final with probable cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
May 18, 2000
Injury Outcomes
No injuries (1 uninjured)
Location
Biggs, CA
Aircraft
Grumman G-164A
Tail Number
N5335
Injuries
None
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
LAX00LA199

While seeding a rice field on the sixth flight of the day, the engine began to lose power. The pilot made an emergency landing in an adjacent rice field that was flooded and muddy. On the landing rollout the main landing gear wheels dug into the mud and the airplane nosed over. Examination of the engine revealed that the number 3 cylinder exhaust valve area had a crack that extended from the rocker shaft to the push rod boss area. No further anomalies were observed with the engine.

NTSB Probable Cause

The broken exhaust valve rocker arm of the number 3 cylinder that resulted in a total loss of engine power during an aerial application flight.

Full Narrative

On May 18, 2000, at 1630 hours Pacific daylight time, a Grumman G-164A, N5335, experienced a loss of engine power during aerial application, then nosed over during the subsequent forced landing in a rice field near Biggs, California. The airplane, operated by Williams Ag. Service under 14 CFR Part 137 as an agricultural operation, sustained substantial damage. The commercial pilot was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions existed for the rice seeding operation and no flight plan was filed. The flight originated about 1615 at a private dirt field in Biggs, and was scheduled to terminate there. The pilot reported that this was the sixth flight of the day. He had refueled prior to the accident flight with 60 gallons of fuel, and was carrying a full load of rice seed in the hopper. He stated that the airplane began losing engine power about 15 minutes into the flight, and he was attempting to make a forced landing in an open pasture. Shortly thereafter, the engine lost all power and he landed short of the pasture in a flooded, muddy, rice field. During the landing rollout, the main wheels dug into the mud and the airplane nosed over. A Federal Aviation Administration inspector examined the airplane on May 15, 2000, at the owner's facilities in Biggs. He observed a crack in the number 3 cylinder exhaust valve area below the rocker shaft that continued through the push rod boss area. No further discrepancies were noted.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time16:30 PDT
Nearest AirportPvt. Dirt Strip (0nm)
Runway0
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftGrumman G-164A
Tail NumberN5335
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageSubstantial
Operating RulePart 137
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsP&W · R-1340AN-1 · Reciprocating · 600
Seats1

People & Injuries

Injury SummaryNo injuries (1 uninjured)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured1
Total1
Crew 1Age 61 · Second Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind290° @ 10 kt, gusting 14 kt
Visibility10 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point52
Altimeter30.00 inHg
Observation Time22:53
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data