GUNNISON, MS, USA
N6787K
GRUMMAN G-164C
THE PILOT REPORTED THAT HE SMELLED SOMETHING HOT WHILE SPRAYING. HE CHECKED THE INSTRUMENTS AND NOTED THAT THE OIL TEMPERATURE GAUGE WAS INDICATING OFF THE HIGH SIDE OF THE SCALE. HE STARTED TO MAKE A PRECAUTIONARY LANDING BUT THE ENGINE SEIZED DURING FINAL APPROACH. A FORCED LANDING WAS MADE IN A FRESHLY PLOWED FIELD WHERE THE PLANE NOSED OVER. A TEARDOWN OF THE ENGINE REVEALED THAT A MASTER ROD SPACER, PN 117547, HAD FAILED. WITHOUT THIS SPACER THE MASTER ROD WOULD NOT BE PROPERLY LUBRICATED, AND REPORTEDLY, THE ENGINE COULD SEIZE. FURTHER INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT THE ENGINE HAD BEEN OVERHAULED 93 HRS PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT. FOLLOWING THE OVERHAUL, THE ENGINE HAD A PROBLEM LEAKING OIL PAST THE VALVES, SO IT WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE OVERHAUL FACILITY. SEVEN CYLINDERS WERE REMOVED AND REWORKED. THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED FOLLOWING A BRIEF BREAK-IN PERIOD AFTER THAT.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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