On March 4, 2006, a Grumman-schweizer G-164B (registration N6641Q) was involved in an aviation accident near Texarkana, AR. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The loss of engine power due to a cracked cylinder. Contributing factors were the pilot's failure to maintain adequate airspeed. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.
A commercial pilot in a single-engine agricultural airplane experienced engine vibration and power loss during climb-out. After dumping insecticide payload, the airplane rolled past 80 degrees and impacted muddy terrain nose-first. Engine examination revealed a cracked number three cylinder.
Incident Description
A commercial pilot with 828 hours of flight time was operating a single-engine agricultural application airplane. The flight departed from a private grass strip measuring 3,500 feet in length and 100 feet in width, initiating a climb on a northerly heading. During the climb-out maneuver, the pilot began a turn to the east. At that point, the engine started to vibrate and run rough, subsequently losing power. The pilot reported activating the dump valve to release the insecticide payload in order to reduce the airplane's weight. Following the dump, the pilot stated that the airplane "rolled to the left past 80-degrees." The airplane then impacted muddy terrain in a near-vertical attitude. The aircraft was equipped with a 5-point restraint system, which held the pilot in place throughout the sequence.
Examination Findings
After the accident, the operator conducted an examination of the radial engine. The inspection revealed that the number three cylinder was cracked. No other mechanical anomalies were reported in the source material.