VALLEY MILLS, TX, USA
N9828
GRUMMAN G-164A
DURING A DESCENT FOR AERIAL APPLICATION OF FERTILIZER ON A WHEAT FIELD, THE ENGINE LOST POWER AND THE PILOT MADE A FORCED LANDING. DURING THE LANDING ROLL IN THE WET FIELD THE AIRPLANE NOSED OVER. A REVIEW OF THE MAINTENANCE RECORDS REVEALED THAT THE ENGINE WAS APPROVED FOR AUTOMOTIVE FUEL. AN ENGINE TEARDOWN WAS CONDUCTED. SPARK PLUGS INSTALLED ON THE BACK SIDE OF THE CYLINDERS WERE NOT APPROVED BY THE ENGINE MANUFACTURER. THE PLUGS WERE CORRODED AND FOULED. CARBON DEPOSITS WERE FOUND IN THE OIL. THE INTAKE MANIFOLD, THE VALVES, AND THE TOPS OF THE PISTONS CONTAINED CARBON DEPOSITS. THE MANUFACTURER RECOMMENDED ENGINE OVERHAUL IS BETWEEN 600 AND 1000 HOURS FOR THIS ENGINE. EIGHT HUNDRED AND FORTY SEVEN HOURS OF USE HAD OCCURRED WITH THIS ENGINE SINCE THE LAST OVERHAUL.
POWER LOSS DUE INADEQUATE MAINTENANCE AND THE RESULTANT MULTIPLE MAINTENANCE DISCREPANCIES. A FACTOR WAS THE WET TERRAIN.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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