On March 13, 2000, a Grumman G-164A (registration N6637) was involved in an aviation accident near Garwood, TX. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The failure of the left magneto, which resulted in the partial loss of engine power during takeoff. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.
During takeoff, an agricultural airplane's engine lost partial power. The pilot aborted but could not stop before the runway end, rolling through a fence and coming to rest on its nose in a ditch. Post-accident testing revealed a left magneto issue.
Accident Overview
An agricultural airplane experienced a loss of engine power during the takeoff roll. According to the pilot, the aircraft was approximately three-quarters of the way down the runway when the engine began to lose power, with the pilot noting that "the engine kept cutting in and out." The pilot decided to abort the takeoff, but was unable to bring the airplane to a stop before reaching the end of the runway.
Sequence of Events
The airplane subsequently rolled through a fence and came to rest on its nose in a ditch. No further details about the location or date of the incident were provided in the report.
Post-Accident Examination
A post-accident engine run was conducted to assess the condition of the engine. The test revealed that the engine operated normally when using the right magneto; however, it would not operate when the left magneto was selected. This finding indicates a malfunction in the left magneto system at the time of the accident.