TRUMANN, AR, USA
N8783H
GRUMMAN G-164A
THE PILOT OF AN AGRICULTURAL AIRPLANE NOTICED THAT THE ENGINE WAS SMOKING HEAVILY AND LOSING POWER WHILE SPRAYING PEA FIELDS DURING AND AERIAL APPLICATION FLIGHT. THE ENGINE POWER DECREASED TO THE POINT WHERE THE PILOT WAS UNABLE TO MAINTAIN LEVEL FLIGHT. THE PILOT ELECTED TO EXECUTE A FORCED LANDING TO A CULTIVATED FIELD. DURING THE LANDING ROLL, THE AIRPLANE IMPACTED A DITCH AT THE END OF THE FIELD HE SELECTED FOR THE FORCED LANDING. THE AIRPLANE NOSED OVER AND CAME TO REST IN THE INVERTED POSITION, RESULTING IN STRUCTURAL DAMAGE TO THE AIRFRAME. THE REASON FOR THE LOSS OF ENGINE POWER COULD NOT BE DETERMINED.
On August 26, 1995, at 1845 central daylight time, a Grumman G- 164A, N8783H, was substantially damaged during a forced landing near Trumann, Arkansas. The commercial pilot was not injured. The aircraft was being operated on an aerial application flight by Simmons Flying Service Inc., under 14 CFR Part 137 when the accident occurred. The flight originated in Jonesboro, Arkansas, at approximately 1815 CDT. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the local flight for which no flight plan was filed. According to the operator, the pilot noticed that the engine was smoking heavily and losing power while spraying pea fields during an aerial application flight. The pilot stated that the degradation of engine power continued to the point where he was unable to maintain level flight, so he elected to execute a forced landing to a bean field. During the landing roll, the airplane impacted a ditch at the end of the bean field causing the airplane to nose over and come to rest in the inverted position. Post-accident examination of the airplane revealed that the airframe sustained structural damage. The reason for the loss of engine power could not be determined.
THE LOSS OF ENGINE POWER FOR UNDETERMINED REASONS. A FACTOR WAS THE LACK OF SUITABLE TERRAIN AVAILABLE TO THE PILOT TO EXECUTE THE FORCED LANDING.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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