Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Vernalis, California 95385
Saturday, February 29, 1992 9:30 PST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE AIRPLANE EXPERIENCED AN UNCONTAINED SEPARATION OF THE SECOND-STAGE STATOR TURBINE WHEEL WHILE EXECUTING AN AERIAL APPLICATION PROCEDURE TURN. THE AIRPLANE'S ALTITUDE WAS INSUFFICIENT FOR THE PILOT TO ALIGN IT WITH THE CULTIVATED FURROWS. THE LANDING WAS NORMAL BUT THE AIRPLANE NOSED OVER ONTO ITS BACK DURING THE LANDING ROLL WHEN THE WHEELS DUG INTO THE FURROWS. EXAMINATION OF THE ENGINE'S LOGBOOK DISCLOSED THAT THE OPERATOR HAD NOT PROPERLY COMPLIED WITH AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVE (AD) 86-08-06. THIS AD REQUIRES RADIOGRAPHIC INSPECTION OF THE SECOND-STAGE STATOR TURBINE WHEEL ASSEMBLY.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

THE OPERATOR'S FAILURE TO PROPERLY COMPLY WITH AN AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVE AFFECTING THE SECOND-STAGE TURBINE WHEEL ASSEMBLY. CONTRIBUTING TO THIS ACCIDENT WAS THE UNCONTAINED FAILURE OF THE SECOND-STAGE TURBINE WHEEL AND THE ROUGH/UNEVEN TERRAIN.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 2/29/1992
Event Day of the Week Saturday
Time of Event 930
Event Time Zone Pacific Standard Time
Event City VERNALIS
Event State CALIFORNIA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 95385
Event Date Year 1992
Event Date Month 2
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport
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 0
Degrees magnetic from airport 0
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Pilot
Time of the weather observation 0
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID
Elevation of weather observation facility 0
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Broken
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) --
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 0
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 0
Wind Velocity Indicator Calm
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) --
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) 1928
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time 0
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 46769
Date of most recent change to record Dec 11 2000 2:45PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N5408
NTSB Number LAX92LA131
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 GRUMMAN
Aircraft Model G-164A
Aircraft Series Identifier G-164A
Aircraft Serial Number 981
Certified Max Gross Weight 4500
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 4 1991 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 362
Airframe Hours 4058
ELT Installed No
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name TRINKLE & BOYS AGRICULTURAL
Aircraft Owner Street Address 31244 S. HIGHWAY 33
Aircraft Owner City TRACY
Aircraft Owner State CA
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 95376
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name TRINKLE & BOYS AGRICULTURAL
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address 31244 S. HIGHWAY 33
Operator City TRACY
Operator State CA
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 95376
Operator Code
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 900
Departure Time Zone PST
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 Maneuvering
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 0
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --