On August 7, 2002, a Schweizer G-164B (registration N8444K) was involved in an aviation accident near Sturgis, MI. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The failure of the engine turbine section, which resulted in a loss of engine power and the subsequent forced landing. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.
An aircraft suffered significant damage after nosing over in a soybean field during a forced landing, following an in-flight loss of engine power while maneuvering.
What happened
The aircraft was engaged in an aerial application mission when it experienced a sudden loss of engine power while maneuvering. Unable to maintain altitude or reach a suitable runway, the pilot executed a forced landing in an adjacent soybean field. Upon impact with the ground, the airplane nosed over, resulting in substantial damage to the airframe.
The investigation
Following the accident, investigators conducted a postaccident examination of the aircraft and its propulsion system. The inspection focused on the engine to determine the root cause of the power loss. Examination of the turbine section revealed that it had failed, which was identified as the primary mechanical issue leading to the in-flight shutdown.
Findings
The investigation confirmed that the engine failure occurred due to a malfunction within the turbine section. This mechanical failure resulted in an immediate loss of thrust during critical maneuvering flight. The pilot's decision to land in the soybean field was necessitated by the inability to continue powered flight. The nosed-over impact caused the reported damage to the airplane structure.
Probable cause
The failure of the engine turbine section, which resulted in a loss of engine power and the subsequent forced landing.