Thompson Strip Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Richvale, California 95974
Sunday, May 17, 1998 11:30 PDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

On takeoff, the pilot experienced a loss of engine power preceded by the sound of loud 'pop.' He completed a forced landing on soft ground and the aircraft nosed over. During the post-accident teardown inspection of the engine, it was noted that four compressor/turbine blades had failed at the blade/butt interface. The failed blades were not standard manufacturer's replacement parts.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The separation of four compressor/turbine blades resulting in a sudden loss of engine power with a subsequent forced landing into unsuitable terrain.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 5/17/1998
Event Day of the Week Sunday
Time of Event 1130
Event Time Zone Pacific Daylight Time
Event City RICHVALE
Event State CALIFORNIA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 95974
Event Date Year 1998
Event Date Month 5
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport THOMPSON STRIP
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 --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation 200
Weather Briefing Completeness Not pertinent
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1147 Pacific Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 340
Weather Observation Facility ID CIC
Elevation of weather observation facility 0
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 18
Time Zone of the weather observation PDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 4500
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Scattered
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 60
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 21
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 8
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 280
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 8
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30
Density Altitude (feet) 100
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) 433
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date May 17 1998 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1221
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 11 2000 11:22AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N8177K
NTSB Number LAX98LA162
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 137: Agricultural
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Destroyed
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Schweizer
Aircraft Model G164D
Aircraft Series Identifier G164D
Aircraft Serial Number 8D
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 Apr 25 1998 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 62
Airframe Hours 9628
ELT Installed No
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name AVAG, INCORPORATED
Aircraft Owner Street Address P.O. BOX 156
Aircraft Owner City RICHVALE
Aircraft Owner State CA
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 95974
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 NIEG
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 PVT
Departure City
Departure State CA
Departure Country
Departure Time 1130
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 Takeoff
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:34AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 16
Runway Length 2000
Runway Width 30
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --