Grumman G-164A N897X

Summary

On 11 July 2000 at about 18:30 local time, a Grumman G-164A registered N897X, operated by Williams AG Service, Inc., was involved in an accident near Gridley, California, 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

11 July 2000 at 18:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Gridley, California, United States

Coordinates

39.3492, -121.7607

Aircraft

Grumman G-164A

Registration

N897X

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Williams AG Service, Inc.

Operating rule

Part 137: Agricultural

Purpose of flight

Aerial Application

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Biggs → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

LAX00LA261

Nobody was injured.

A partial loss of engine power due to the failure of an exhaust valve during an aerial application flight.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

While maneuvering during an aerial application flight, the pilot heard an unusual engine noise, experienced a loss of engine oil pressure, observed smoke, and lost partial power. The pilot made a precautionary landing on a nearby field road. During rollout, the airplane collided with a dirt berm. An inspection of the engine revealed its No. 2 cylinder exhaust valve head had separated and it broke the cylinder. The engine's total time was estimated at 9,300 hours, and it had been operated about 708.8 hours since last receiving a major overhaul.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.