MOSCOW, ID, USA
N48559
Schweizer G164B
The pilot reported that while conducting an agricultural aerial application flight, the windscreen suddenly became obscured by smoke and oil. Operating over hilly terrain with poor forward visibility through the windscreen, he attempted a forced landing on a ridge top. The airplane was substantially damaged in the forced landing. FAA inspectors who examined the airplane after the accident reported that they found an access plug missing from the front of the crankcase of the aircraft's Pratt & Whitney R-1340 radial engine.
On May 29, 1996, at approximately 0930 Pacific daylight time, N48559, a Schweizer G-164B operated by Fountain Inc. of Moscow, Idaho, a 14 CFR 137 agricultural aircraft certificate holder, was substantially damaged in a forced landing following an engine malfunction while conducting a 14 CFR 137 agricultural aerial application flight near Moscow. The commercial pilot of the single-seat aircraft was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan had been filed. The pilot reported: "While applying herbicide on wheat field...the windscreen suddenly became ob[s]cured by smoke and oil. Attempted landing on ridge top in hilly country while forward visibility was poor." FAA inspectors from Spokane, Washington who examined the aircraft wreckage after the accident reported that an access plug was missing from the front of the crankcase of the aircraft's Pratt & Whitney R-1340 radial engine. Photographs taken by the inspectors also showed oil staining on an aircraft component. The operator did not furnish any information regarding the maintenance, service or inspection history of the aircraft or engine with his accident report.
inflight loss of an unsecured access plug from the engine crankcase, which resulted in a loss of engine oil and a forced landing. Factors relating to the accident were: hilly terrain, and foreign material (engine oil) on the windscreen which limited forward visibility.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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