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June 4, 2005 · Grumman G-164B · N6832K

Lake Charles, LA

Overview

Report Status
Final with probable cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
June 4, 2005
Injury Outcomes
No injuries (1 uninjured)
Location
Lake Charles, LA
Aircraft
Grumman G-164B
Tail Number
N6832K
Operator
O Brien Flying Service
Injuries
None
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
DFW05LA147

Following takeoff and after initiating a left turn to return to the field being sprayed, the 19,000 hour pilot reduced propeller RPM and the 2-bladed propeller "went to the full coarse setting and lost drive." During the forced landing the airplane struck a power line and subsequently impacted terrain. Examination of the propeller governor by a repair facility revealed that the "propeller governor pilot valve had failed, causing an internal oil leak, which resulted in the failure of the propeller governor. "

NTSB Probable Cause

The failure of the propeller governor which resulted in a forced landing. A contributing factor was the transmission wire.

Full Narrative

On June 4, 2005, at 1440 central daylight time, a single-engine Grumman G-164B agricultural aircraft, N6832K, was substantially damaged during a forced landing following a loss of propeller drive during cruise flight near Lake Charles, Louisiana. The commercial pilot, sole occupant of the airplane, was not injured. The airplane was owned and operated by O'Brien Flying Service, Inc., of Iowa, Louisiana. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 137 aerial application flight. The flight originated from one of the operator's remote field strips near Iowa, Louisiana, at about 1400. The pilot reported to the operator that following takeoff, after initiating a left turn to return to the field being sprayed, the pilot reduced propeller RPM to a climb power setting when the pitch on the two bladed Hamilton Standard model 12D40-6101-12 propeller "went to the full coarse setting and lost drive." The 19,000-hour pilot initiated a forced landing to a clearing. During the forced landing the airplane struck a power line, before impacting a rice field. The operator reported that the 600-horsepower Pratt & Whitney R-1340-AN-1 radial engine had accumulated a total of 483 hours since its last overhaul, and the propeller had accumulated a total of 541 hours since its last overhaul. The last annual inspection was completed on January 5, 2005, approxiamately 366 hours prior to the accident. Oil was present in the crankcase, and no evidence of metal was found in suspension or in the oil filter. The propeller governor, a Hamilton Standard model 1M12G, serial number 121470, had accumulated a total of 753.91 hours since its last overhaul. The propeller governor was removed for further examination by Aircraft Accessories of Oklahoma Inc., of Tulsa, Oklahoma. In a telephone interview with a representative of the investigator-in-charge, a representative of Aircraft Accessories of Oklahoma stated, that the "propeller governor pilot valve had failed, causing an internal oil leak, which resulted in the failure of the propeller governor. " The left lower wing, left main landing gear assembly, and the vertical stabilizer sustained structural damage. There was no fire.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time14:40 CDT
Nearest AirportO'Brian Flying Service Airport (0nm)
Runway Length3800 ft
Runway Width100 ft
Flight Plan FiledNone
Flight Plan ActivatedNo
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftGrumman G-164B
Tail NumberN6832K
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageSubstantial
OperatorO Brien Flying Service
Operating RulePart 137
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsPratt & Whitney · R-1340ANI · Reciprocating · 600
Seats1

People & Injuries

Injury SummaryNo injuries (1 uninjured)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured1
Total1
Crew 1Age 60 · Second Class · None

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind220° @ 8 kt
Visibility10 sm
CeilingNone
Altimeter29.84 inHg
Weather SourcePILO

Appendix: Source Data