Accident Details
On May 13, 2015, at approximately 0930 Pacific daylight time, a Grumman Aircraft ENG COR-Schweizer G164A airplane, registered as N8875H, experienced a loss of engine power shortly after takeoff. The pilot executed an emergency landing on a dirt road near Maxwell, California. The aircraft was operated by Richter Aviation Inc. under 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 137 for an aerial application flight. The commercial pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured. The airplane sustained substantial damage. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and the flight departed from a private airstrip. No flight plan had been filed.
Pilot Report
In a written statement, the pilot reported that the airplane functioned normally before takeoff, with a good magneto check and no indications of problems. About 200 feet above ground level, he heard a loud pop, and the engine quit. He made a right 90-degree turn to land on a dirt road. The road was too narrow, causing the right wheel to go over the edge into a rice field and become stuck in mud, which slowed the airplane and caused it to flip onto its back.
During an interview with a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector, the pilot reported that at the time of takeoff, there was less than half a tank of fuel on board.
Fuel and Maintenance
The operator reported that the day before the accident, the left magneto had been replaced, and the airplane had not been refueled following the maintenance. The operator also stated that the pilot began flying at 0900 on the day of the accident to spray pesticide on rice fields.
A responding deputy from the Colusa County Sheriff's Department noted no evidence of fuel or fuel smell at the accident site.
An FAA inspector reported that during recovery, maintenance personnel recovered half a gallon of fuel from the airplane. They stated there was no fuel smell or residual fuel found on the ground. The airplane holds 80 gallons of fuel and burns about 40 gallons per hour.
The loader reported that the airplane was not refueled on the day of the accident.
Postaccident Examination
During the postaccident engine examination, the FAA inspector stated that the engine turned freely without binding, and about one-third cup of fuel was recovered from the gascolator. Compression was obtained in all cylinders except the number one cylinder, which had sustained impact damage. The left magneto produced a spark when rotated, while the right magneto had sustained impact damage and could not be functionally tested.