Aviation Accident Summaries

Aviation Accident Summary FTW94LA205

BRINKLEY, AR, USA

Aircraft #1

N112JM

GRUMMAN G-164B

Analysis

DURING THE TAKEOFF INITIAL CLIMB SMOKE CAME FROM THE ENGINE AND A POWER HESITATION OCCURED. THE PILOT DUMPED THE LOAD AND TURNED THE AIRPLANE TOWARD THE AIRPORT. AS MORE SMOKE CAME FROM THE ENGINE, A TOTAL LOSS OF POWER OCCURRED. DURING THE FORCED LANDING THE AIRPLANE CROSSED A TREE LINE AND LANDED IN A RICE FIELD. DURING THE LANDING ROLL, THE MAIN GEAR HIT A LEVEE AND THE AIRPLANE CAME TO REST INVERTED. EXAMINATION OF THE ENGINE AND ACCERSSORIES REVEALED THE SUPERCHARGER IMPELLER P/N 12788 WAS DAMAGED WHERE THE BLADES HAD CONTACTED THE HOUSING. THE IMPELLER BEARING P/N 288943 HAD FAILED AND ALLOWED THE IMPELLER TO BE DESTROYED RESULTING IN A COMPLETE LOSS OF THE ENGINE POWER.

Factual Information

On June 20, 1994, at 1730 central daylight time, a Grumman G-164B, N112JM, was substantially damaged near Brinkley, Arkansas, following a total loss of engine power during takeoff. The commercial pilot did not receive injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the local aerial application flight. During telephone interviews, the pilot and operator reported an "abnormal engine noise" occurred as the airplane crossed the departure end of the runway. The pilot dumped the load, cleared trees, and maintained level flight. The pilot said "the engine coughed and black smoke rolled from it." A witness also observed black smoke from the airplane. The pilot executed a forced landing into an adjacent rice field. During the landing roll, the main gear hit a rice levee and the airplane nosed over to an inverted position and slid into another rice levee before coming to rest. The rudder, vertical stabilizer, and wing spars were damaged. During a telephone interview, a company mechanic stated that the reciprocating radial engine had 1,135 hours since the last overhaul. He further said the engine had between 9,000 and 10,000 total hours. The engine and accessories were examined on August 24, 1994, at Greenwood, Mississippi. The report is enclosed. The supercharger impeller P/N 12788 was damaged where the blades had contacted the housing. Impeller bearing P/N 288943 had failed. The airplane was released to the owner.

Probable Cause and Findings

A SUPERCHARGER IMPELLER BEARING FAILURE. A FACTOR WAS THE LACK OF SUITABLE TERRAIN FOR THE FORCED LANDING.

 

Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database

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