On July 30, 1987, a Schweizer G-164A (registration N8881H) operated by Charles Bonner was involved in an aviation accident near Summerdale, AL. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.
During an aerial application climb, the engine lost power. After dumping the chemical load, the pilot landed in an adjacent field. On rollout, the airplane hit a ditch and nosed over. Investigation revealed a failed impeller bushing in the supercharger, with metal particles throughout the induction system.
Incident Overview
The pilot was preparing for an aerial application operation when, during the initial climb, the engine experienced a loss of power. In response, the chemical load was jettisoned, and the pilot executed an off-field landing in an adjacent field. During the landing rollout, the airplane struck a ditch and subsequently nosed over.
Engine Examination
A post-accident examination of the engine disclosed that an impeller bushing within the supercharger had failed. This failure resulted in the generation of metal particles, which were found throughout the induction system, including the cylinders, intake valves, and exhaust valves. The source of the metal particles was identified as the damaged impeller.