On August 29, 1985, a Schweizer G164A "450" (registration N8444K) was involved in an aviation accident near Constantine, MI. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The failure of the supercharger, which resulted in an in-flight loss of engine power and a subsequent forced landing. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.
An agricultural aircraft nosed over in a cornfield after the engine lost power during a second swath run. Investigation revealed a failed supercharger caused the forced landing.
What happened
The aircraft was conducting agricultural operations when it sustained damage during a forced landing in a cornfield. The pilot reported that while flying at an altitude of 30 feet above ground level during a second swath run, the engine backfired and subsequently lost power. In an attempt to mitigate the situation, the pilot tried to dump the cargo load. However, the aircraft continued to lose altitude, resulting in a forced landing where the nose of the aircraft collapsed.
The investigation
A post-accident examination of the aircraft was conducted to determine the mechanical cause of the power loss. The inspection disclosed that the supercharger had failed. This mechanical failure is consistent with the pilot's report of the engine backfiring and losing power during the operation.
Findings
The investigation determined that the primary factor in the accident was the failure of the supercharger. This mechanical issue led to an immediate loss of engine power while the aircraft was at a low altitude, leaving insufficient time or height for a safe recovery. The pilot's attempt to dump the load did not prevent the subsequent nosedown impact with the ground.
Probable cause
The failure of the supercharger, which resulted in an in-flight loss of engine power and a subsequent forced landing.