Aviation Accident Summaries

Aviation Accident Summary ATL00LA087

DILLON, SC, USA

Aircraft #1

N7955

Grumman G164A

Analysis

The pilot was spraying chemicals into a field when the engine lost power. The pilot made an emergency landing into a soft field and flipped inverted during the landing roll. The airplane sustained substantial damage to both wings and the vertical stabilizer. Examination of the engine revealed that the number eight (8) cylinder had cracked.

Factual Information

On September 9, 2000, at 1030 eastern daylight time, a Grumman G-164A, N7955, collided with terrain during an emergency descent to landing following a loss of engine power, in Dillon, South Carolina. The airplane was operated by the commercial pilot under the provisions of Title 14, CFR Part 137, and visual flight rules. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed for the local agricultural flight. The pilot was not injured and the airplane sustained substantial damage. The flight originated from Dillon County Airport, Dillon, South Carolina, at 0950. According to the pilot he was spraying chemicals into a field when he heard a hissing sound and the engine lost power. The pilot made an emergency landing into a soft field and flipped inverted during the landing roll. The airplane sustained substantial damage to both wings and the vertical stabilizer. Examination of the engine reveled that the number eight (8) cylinder had cracked. According to the pilot, the engine had accumulated 1,113 hours since its last major overhaul.

Probable Cause and Findings

A total loss of engine power due to a cracked cylinder head. A factor was the emergency landing into unsuitable terrain, and the subsequent nose over.

 

Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database

Get all the details on your iPhone or iPad with:

Aviation Accidents App

In-Depth Access to Aviation Accident Reports