Farm Airstrip Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Marysville, California 95992
Monday, April 19, 1999 7:52 PDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot said that he had just taken off from a farm airstrip and was initiating a turn to clear a building when several 'pop' sounds came from the engine and it began to lose power. The pilot was unable to clear a set of power lines and struck the wires. Ground witnesses said they watched the aircraft liftoff from the airstrip and begin a gentle left turn to clear a building. In the turn a trail of black smoke began coming from the aircraft as it started a shallow descent toward a field. Just before the aircraft hit the power lines, a large puff of black smoke emanated from the aircraft. After colliding with the wires, the aircraft hit the ground and nosed over. The witnesses heard distinct 'popping sounds' associated with the onset of the smoke trail. The engine was removed and transported to a turbine engine overhaul facility for examination. Teardown of the engine revealed that one blade in the power turbine wheel had failed at the root section and was not recovered. Two other blades were fractured at their approximate midspan point and the outboard blade sections were not recovered. All other blades around the disk exhibited nicks and gouges in the leading edges. All fracture surfaces exhibited granular features. The compressor bleed valve would not hold pressure and was found to be leaking from the seal under the seal support plate-securing nut. Review of the engine maintenance records disclosed that the compressor bleed valve was installed on the engine 605 hours prior to the accident. Prior to installation on the engine, a new diaphragm was installed in the valve.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

A loss of engine power due to a leaking surge bleed valve which induced compressor stalls within the engine.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 4/19/1999
Event Day of the Week Monday
Time of Event 752
Event Time Zone Pacific Daylight Time
Event City MARYSVILLE
Event State CALIFORNIA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 95992
Event Date Year 1999
Event Date Month 4
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude --
Event Location Longitude --
Event Location Airport FARM AIRSTRIP
Event Location Nearest Airport ID
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles 1
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation 60
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 750 Pacific Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 185
Weather Observation Facility ID MYV
Elevation of weather observation facility 62
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 10
Time Zone of the weather observation PDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 25000
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 15000
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Scattered
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Broken
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 45
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 12
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 9
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 140
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 10
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 1
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 1253
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Apr 19 1999 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 825
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Mar 4 2001 7:07AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N3633B
NTSB Number LAX99LA157
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 137: Agricultural
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Schweizer
Aircraft Model G-164B
Aircraft Series Identifier G-164B
Aircraft Serial Number 775B
Certified Max Gross Weight 5200
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 1
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Feb 25 1999 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 29
Airframe Hours 8199
ELT Installed No
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name ONSTOTT DUSTERS, INC.
Aircraft Owner Street Address P.O. BOX 709
Aircraft Owner City YUBA CITY
Aircraft Owner State CA
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 95992
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address
Operator City
Operator State
Operator Country
Operator Zip code
Operator Code NGRG
Owner has at least one certificate Yes - certificate holder
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation Agriculture
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not Unknown
Indicates Domestic or International Flight Unknown
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail Unknown
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Aerial Application
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 751
Departure Time Zone PDT
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code
Destination City
Destination State
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Mar 4 2001 7:07AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 0
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --