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Aviation safety reports, made easier to study

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NTSB Report

August 11, 2010 · Grumman G164 B · N6781K

Tracy, CA

Overview

Report Status
Final with probable cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
August 11, 2010
Injury Outcomes
No injuries (1 uninjured)
Location
Tracy, CA
Aircraft
Grumman G164 B
Tail Number
N6781K
Operator
Trinkle Ag Flying
Injuries
None
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
WPR10LA396

During an aerial application flight, the pilot heard a loud bang, which was followed by a loss of engine power and shaking. During the forced landing to a wet field, the pilot activated the left brake to intentionally ground-loop the airplane; however, it did not respond. The airplane continued its forward movement until it struck a fence at the end of the field and came to rest inverted. During the postaccident engine examination, it was discovered that the connecting links for all but the No. 7 cylinder were broken and the master rod was sheared. Due to the extent of internal damage, it could not be determined if the master rod or the connecting link had failed first.

NTSB Probable Cause

A total loss of engine power while maneuvering due to an internal catastrophic failure to the master rod and piston connecting rod links.

Full Narrative

On August 11, 2010, about 0715 Pacific daylight time, a Grumman Aircraft Engineering Corporation Schweizer G-164B, N6781K, experienced a loss of engine power while maneuvering to spray a field near Tracy, California. Trinkle AG Flying Inc., operated the airplane under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 137 as an agricultural crop dusting flight. The commercial pilot/owner was not injured; the airplane sustained substantial damage to the wings, fuselage, and tail section. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the local area flight and no flight plan had been filed. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigator-in-charge (IIC) interviewed the pilot. According to the pilot, he had started flying about 0630 the morning of the accident. The accident flight was the second flight of the day. He reported that the airplane was loaded with 240 gallons of pesticide and about 35 gallons of fuel. While spraying a cornfield, he heard a loud bang, followed by a loss of engine power. The pilot also reported that the engine began shaking. He was able to land the airplane in an alfalfa field, but the field was slick and as he activated the left brake to intentionally ground loop the airplane, it did not respond. The airplane continued its forward movement until it struck a fence at the end of the field. The airplane came to rest inverted in a nearby ditch adjacent to the alfalfa field. The engine was examined under the supervision of a Federal Aviation Administration inspector. During the examination, it was discovered that the head to the number five cylinder was cracked. In addition, the connecting links for all but the number 7 cylinder were broken and the master rod had sheared. They were unable to determine if the master rod or the connecting link failed first. No other anomalies were noted with the airframe or the power plant.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time07:15 PDT
Nearest AirportPrivate Airstrip (0nm)
Flight Plan FiledNone
Flight Plan ActivatedNo
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftGrumman G164 B
Tail NumberN6781K
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageSubstantial
OperatorTrinkle Ag Flying
Operating RulePart 137
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsPratt And Whitney · R-1340 · Reciprocating · 600
Seats1

People & Injuries

Injury SummaryNo injuries (1 uninjured)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured1
Total1
Crew 1Age 34 · Second Class · None

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind280° @ 10 kt
Visibility10 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point57 / 52
Altimeter29.89 inHg
Observation Time13:55
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data