Grumman G-164A N7220

Summary

On 23 July 2004 at about 02:30 local time, a Grumman G-164A registered N7220, operated by Donald L. Taylor, was involved in an accident near Nyssa, Oregon, United States. One person was on board and one had minor injuries. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

23 July 2004 at 02:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Nyssa, Oregon, United States

Coordinates

43.8869, -117.0836

Aircraft

Grumman G-164A

Registration

N7220

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Donald L. Taylor

Operating rule

Part 137: Agricultural

Purpose of flight

Aerial Application

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Nyssa → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

SEA04LA139

1 person had minor injuries.

The failure (fracture) of the number four cylinder head during an aerial application run. Factors include the soft crop-covered terrain.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

During an aerial application run, the pilot heard a loud bang, and the engine suddenly lost a significant amount of power. Because the aircraft did not have enough power to remain airborne, the pilot elected to execute a forced landing in a nearby agricultural field. Although the initial touchdown was uneventful, the main gear of the aircraft dug into the soft terrain, leading to a main gear collapse and a nose-over of the aircraft. It was ultimately determined that while the aircraft was in flight, the number four cylinder head had fractured near where the cylinder head was screwed into the cylinder barrel, and the fracture was of such a nature that it kept the cylinder from developing the compression necessary for detonation of the fuel/air mixture.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.