Introduction
On December 1, 2020, about 1430 central standard time, a Grumman G164 airplane, registration N48594, was involved in an accident near Elton, Louisiana. The commercial pilot was not injured, and the airplane sustained substantial damage. The aircraft was operating as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 137 aerial application flight.
Flight Details
According to the pilot, the airplane was loaded with fertilizer and was near maximum gross weight when it departed from a local grass strip to fertilize a ryegrass field about 3.5 miles to the north. Shortly after takeoff, the engine began “running bad.” The pilot added power, but the engine continued to worsen. The pilot reported that the engine then stopped developing power, leading to a forced landing in a muddy field approximately ¼ mile from the grass strip. During the landing, the airplane nosed over and came to rest inverted. The accident resulted in substantial damage to the vertical stabilizer and rudder.
Examination
Inspectors from the Federal Aviation Administration examined the engine and airframe at the operator’s location. A visual inspection of the engine revealed no anomalies. The engine fuel filter and oil filter were clean and free of contaminants. Compression was noted on all engine cylinders. The magnetos were removed and tested at a repair facility, where a functional test revealed no anomalies.
Conditions
The atmospheric conditions at the time of the accident were conducive to the accumulation of carburetor ice while operating at cruise or glide power settings. However, the engine power setting used during takeoff was significantly higher than those settings; therefore, it is unlikely that carburetor ice accumulated during the accident takeoff.