Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Basin City, Washington 99343
Friday, May 16, 2003 13:00 PDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot had just executed a reversal turn in order to start another spraying swath when the turbine engine suddenly stopped and the propeller feathered. He attempted to land on a road near the edge of the field he was spraying, but a tractor was on the road so he had to land in a crop of tall wheat. Just before touchdown, one of the aircraft's wings impacted the terrain, and during the landing roll on the soft terrain, the aircraft nosed over. During a post-accident teardown inspection it was determined that the torque sensor idler gear duplex bearing (part number 3103035-1) had failed, which is a condition that would normally result in an uncommanded in-flight shutdown of the engine. Further inspection of the bearing revealed only minimal heat stress discoloration and no clear lack of lubrication, but the bearing balls had been worn undersize, and the bearing cage had fractured into pieces. Further inspection of the bearing by Honeywell Mechanical Systems, revealed that the bearing condition was consistent with advanced rolling contact fatigue failure. As part of the investigation, an FAA Airworthiness Inspector determined that, "The installation of the subject matched bearing set was performed properly by the last overhaul shop in accordance with the Allied-Signal (Honeywell) Overhaul Specification No. 72-00-17, revised July 20, 1992." Although the reason for the unexpected failure of this bearing after approximately 100 hours of operation could not be determined, it was noted that at the last overhaul, the Torque Sensor was not upgraded to the available -3 bearing, which uses a larger bearing assembly and a different gear set.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The failure of the torque sensor idler gear duplex bearing during agricultural aerial application, resulting in a total power loss and a forced landing. Factors include tall wheat and soft terrain.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 5/16/2003
Event Day of the Week Friday
Time of Event 1300
Event Time Zone Pacific Daylight Time
Event City Basin City
Event State WASHINGTON
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 99343
Event Date Year 2003
Event Date Month 5
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 463527N
Event Location Longitude 1191246W
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 --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Witness
Time of the weather observation
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) --
Weather Observation Facility ID --
Elevation of weather observation facility --
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) --
Time Zone of the weather observation --
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height --
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 21
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) --
Variable Wind Indicator Variable
Wind Speed (knots) --
Wind Velocity Indicator Light and Variable
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) --
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 1
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 15785
NTSB Notification Source FAA Opoerations Center
NTSB Notification Date May 16 2003 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1435
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information DMS
Date of most recent change to record Jun 30 2004 12:15PM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\MONR
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office Spokane FSDO

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N3629E
NTSB Number SEA03LA086
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 137: Agricultural
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? No
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Grumman
Aircraft Model G-164B
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 744B
Certified Max Gross Weight --
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 --
Date of Last Inspection --
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed No
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name Haley's Flying Service
Aircraft Owner Street Address PO Box 1049
Aircraft Owner City Tracy
Aircraft Owner State CA
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 95378
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name Daniel Alan Faunce
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address --
Operator City Kahlotus
Operator State WA
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 99335
Operator Code --
Owner has at least one certificate --
Other Operator of large aircraft? --
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation Agriculture
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Aerial Application
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code --
Departure City Basin City
Departure State WA
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1245
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 Maneuvering - aerial application
Report sent to ICAO? No
Evacuation occurred No
Date of most recent change to record May 3 2004 6:10PM
User who most recently changed record STAM
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location --
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --