Grumman G-164A N7498

Summary

On 8 September 1989 at about 21:00 local time, a Grumman G-164A registered N7498, operated by Terry Flying Service, was involved in an accident near Franklin, Louisiana, United States. One person was on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

8 September 1989 at 21:00

Classification

Accident

Location

Franklin, Louisiana, United States

Coordinates

29.7993, -91.5097

Aircraft

Grumman G-164A

Registration

N7498

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Terry Flying Service

Operating rule

Part 137: Agricultural

Purpose of flight

Aerial Application

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

FTW89DRD14

Nobody was injured.

FATIGUE FAILURE OF THE PROPELLER BLADE, WHICH RESULTED IN SEPARATION OF THE BLADE'S TIP AND SEVERE ENGINE VIBRATION. THE SOFT TERRAIN WAS A RELATED FACTOR.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

THE AG PILOT HAD JUST FINISHED SPRAYING A LOAD OF CHEMICALS & WAS IN A TURN TO LOOK AT THE NEXT FIELD TO BE SPRAYED, WHEN THE AIRPLANE STARTED TO VIBRATE VIOLENTLY. HE REDUCED POWER & TURNED TO LINE UP WITH A TURNROW FOR A FORCED LANDING. AFTER TOUCHDOWN, THE ACFT ROLLED ABOUT 300 YARDS ON SOFT TERRAIN, THEN NOSED OVER AS THE PLT APPLIED BRAKES TO AVOID A DITCH. A INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT 13 INCHES OF ONE PROPELLER BLADE WAS MISSING. A EXAM OF THE FRACTURE SURFACE SHOWED INDICATIONS OF A PRE-EXISTING CRACK ON THE LEADING EDGE OF THE BLADE.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.