GRUMMAN G-164A
El Campo, TX, August 18, 2011
Event Information
| Date | August 18, 2011 |
| Event Type | ACC |
| Location | El Campo, TX |
| Country | USA |
| Coordinates | 29.18947, -96.27061 |
| Highest Injury | NONE |
| NTSB Number | CEN11LA556 |
| Event ID | 20110809X13744 |
Aircraft
| Make | GRUMMAN |
| Model | G-164A |
| Registration # | N6567 |
| Operator | AERO AG SERVICES INC |
| Owner | AERO AG SERVICES INC |
| Category | AIR |
| FAR Part | 137 |
| Aircraft Damage | SUBS |
Conditions
| Light Condition | DAYL |
| Weather | VMC |
Injuries
| Fatal | 0 |
| Serious | 0 |
| Minor | 0 |
| None | 1 |
| Total Injured | 0 |
Event Location
Probable Cause
Separation of the No. 3 cylinder exhaust valve rocker arm, which resulted in a loss of engine power.
Full Narrative
On August 18, 2011, at 0936 central daylight time, a Grumman G-164A, N6567, registered to and operated by Aero Ag Services, Inc., impacted a rice field shortly after taking off from a grass airstrip near El Campo, Texas. The commercial pilot was not injured. The airplane sustained substantial damage to its top wing, vertical stabilizer, and rudder. The airplane was being operated under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 137 as an aerial application flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the flight, which was operating without a flight plan. The local flight originated from El Campo moments before the accident.
According to the pilot-operator's accident report, he had just taken off and was about 2 miles from the airstrip when the engine lost power. The pilot started dumping his fertilizer load and landed straight ahead in a flooded rice field. Upon touchdown, the airplane nosed over.
Post-accident examination revealed a crack radiating from the exhaust valve rocker box on the number 3 cylinder where the rocker arm bolt attaches the rocker arm. The top of the rocker box separated, causing the rocker arm to fail. An examination of the remaining systems revealed no preimpact failures or anomalies.
About This NTSB Record
This aviation event was investigated by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). NTSB investigates all U.S. civil aviation accidents to determine probable cause and issue safety recommendations to prevent future accidents.