Incident Summary
On July 18, 2014, about 0845 central daylight time, a Grumman G-164A airplane, registration N6743Q, made a forced landing on a road following a loss of engine power near Fairview, Kansas. The pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured. The airplane sustained substantial damage. The aircraft was registered to and operated by Precision Aerial Ag LLC under 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a positioning flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed. The flight departed Amelia Earhart Airport (K59), Atchison, Kansas, at 0830 and was en route to Sabetha Municipal Airport (K83), Sabetha, Kansas.
Pilot Response
According to the pilot's statement, he was ferrying the airplane at 600 feet above ground level when the engine began to "backfire very loudly" and experienced a partial loss of power. He descended and lined up to land on a rural road. Noticing a car on the road, he circled over a field and attempted to land on the road again. During the landing, the engine experienced a total loss of power, and the airplane stalled, resulting in a bounced hard landing.
Post-Accident Examination
According to the responding Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector, after landing, the airplane slid sideways into a telephone pole, causing damage to the wings and fuselage. One of the two propeller blades had a slight bend. Due to impact damage, the engine could not be test run. Engine continuity was confirmed as the crankshaft rotated without obstruction. The fuel tanks contained fuel. Both magnetos rotated freely and produced a spark. The induction air filter was protruding outward and opposite the direction of normal airflow. One rocker box cover sustained impact damage. No other anomalies were noted on scene.
The airplane was recovered to a storage facility for examination by the FAA inspector and an engine mechanic. On August 1, 2014, the inspector witnessed the removal of the No. 2 cylinder. The oil control ring in that cylinder was broken. The intake valve operated with no anomalies and displayed no damage. The induction air filter bracket and frame were distorted, and the filter could not be removed. No other anomalies were noted with the engine.
A review of the engine maintenance logbooks revealed that a major engine overhaul was completed on November 12, 1996. On February 4, 2014, an annual inspection was completed, and the aircraft was determined to be in airworthy condition. On July 17, 2014, the No. 5 pushrod tube was resealed.