On July 19, 1988, a Grumman 164A (registration N8706H) operated by RH & RH Inc. was involved in an aviation accident near Poplar Bluff, MO. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot's inability to select a suitable forced landing area due to inadequate altitude following an engine failure caused by a loose carburetor float support bracket shaft. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.
An aircraft suffered an engine failure while attempting to land during aerial application operations. The pilot lacked sufficient altitude for a safe forced landing, resulting in a crash into a pipeline right of way and stream.
What happened
The pilot was conducting an aerial application flight when the engine failed while the aircraft was attempting to land. Due to the low altitude at the time of the failure, there was not enough height available to identify or reach a suitable area for a forced landing. The aircraft subsequently impacted the ground within a pipeline right of way and came to rest in a small stream in an inverted position.
The investigation
A mechanical examination of the aircraft was conducted following the accident. The inspection focused on the engine components to determine the cause of the sudden power loss. Investigators found that the carburetor float support bracket shaft was loose, indicating a mechanical failure within the fuel delivery system.
Probable cause
The pilot's inability to select a suitable forced landing area due to inadequate altitude following an engine failure caused by a loose carburetor float support bracket shaft.