Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Garwood, Texas 77442
Wednesday, March 18, 1992 9:00 CST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

DURING A DAY TAKEOFF, THE AIRPLANE EXPERIENCED A COMPLETE LOSS OF ENGINE POWER DUE TO ROCKER ARM FAILURE. THE PILOT SUCCESSFULLY LANDED ON A RICE PADDY; HOWEVER, DURING THE LANDING ROLL THE AIRPLANE IMPACTED A DIKE AND NOSED OVER TO THE INVERTED POSITION. THE ENGINE FAILURE OCCURRED AT 40 FEET ABOVE GROUND LEVEL WHILE TAKING OFF WITH A HIGH GROSS WEIGHT. THE PILOT WAS ABLE TO DUMP MOST OF THE CHEMICAL PRIOR TO LANDING.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

THE LOSS OF ENGINE POWER DUE TO ROCKER ARM FAILURE. A FACTOR WAS THE UNSUITABLE TERRAIN.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 3/18/1992
Event Day of the Week Wednesday
Time of Event 900
Event Time Zone Central Standard Time
Event City GARWOOD
Event State TEXAS
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 77442
Event Date Year 1992
Event Date Month 3
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 Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1050 Central Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 225
Weather Observation Facility ID VCT
Elevation of weather observation facility 100
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 26
Time Zone of the weather observation CST
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 25000
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) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 26
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 19
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 240
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 13
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29
Density Altitude (feet) 900
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) 93
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time 0
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 45973
Date of most recent change to record Dec 11 2000 2:48PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N5378
NTSB Number FTW92LA094
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 1142
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 Jan 7 1992 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 28
Airframe Hours 7213
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name AERO AG SERVICES, INC.
Aircraft Owner Street Address HIGHWAY 71 NORTH, BOX 411
Aircraft Owner City GARWOOD
Aircraft Owner State TX
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 77442
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name AERO AG SERVICES, INC.
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address HIGHWAY 71 NORTH, BOX 411
Operator City GARWOOD
Operator State TX
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 77442
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 CST
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 Descent
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 --