Grumman G-164A N7395

Summary

On 12 July 2008 at about 13:59 local time, a Grumman G-164A registered N7395, operated by Flynts Crop Dusting, was involved in an accident near Pelham, Georgia, United States. One person was on board and one died. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

12 July 2008 at 13:59

Classification

Accident

Location

Pelham, Georgia, United States

Coordinates

31.1317, -84.1267

Aircraft

Grumman G-164A

Registration

N7395

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Flynts Crop Dusting

Operating rule

Part 137: Agricultural

Purpose of flight

Aerial Application

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Pelham → Pelham

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

NYC08LA245

1 person died.

A partial loss of engine power for undetermined reasons which led to a forced landing in unsuitable terrain.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

Approximately 2 weeks before the accident, significant unplanned maintenance was performed on the radial engine of the aerial application airplane. The activity included the removal of seven of the nine cylinders to remove fragments of piston rings, a piston skirt, and a broken governor drive gear from the engine case. Six of the removed cylinders were re-installed, and one cylinder was replaced with an overhauled cylinder and a new piston. The airplane was test flown, returned to service, and utilized for several days. On the day of the accident, one witness said that the engine was making "popping" noises before it crashed. The airplane touched down in a small clearing, but nosed over and collided with shrubs and trees. The accident site was located between the field being sprayed and the owner's airstrip. The pilot was fatally injured. Post-mortem toxicology revealed evidence of recent use of several over-the-counter, and one prescription, medications, but these medications are not typically associated with impairment. An autopsy revealed the presence of severe coronary artery disease and heart enlargement. The pilot’s physique and heart enlargement also strongly suggested that he may have suffered from obstructive sleep apnea, a condition associated with increased accident risk, but the circumstances of the accident were not consistent with impairment or incapacitation. Post accident examination of the engine revealed internal damage consistent with the engine being operated with one or more loose metallic items inside the engine case, but the damage could not be directly associated with the engine power loss. Several piston ring fragments were recovered from the engine case, but it could not be determined whether they were vestiges of previous problems, or were portions of the rings recently installed. No specific engine failure cause or mode was identified during the investigation.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.