Grumman G-164A N5304

Summary

On 30 April 2005 at about 16:30 local time, a Grumman G-164A registered N5304 was involved in an accident near Yuba City, California, United States. One person was on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

30 April 2005 at 16:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Yuba City, California, United States

Coordinates

39.0500, -121.7333

Aircraft

Grumman G-164A

Registration

N5304

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 137: Agricultural

Purpose of flight

Aerial Application

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Yuba City → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

LAX05LA152

Nobody was injured.

a partial loss of engine power due to multiple cracks in the number 7 cylinder. The reasons for the cracks were not determined

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

During the takeoff initial climb, the pilot heard a loud bang followed by a partial loss of engine power, and made an emergency landing on a dry rice field. The airplane landed hard, sheared off the landing gear, and tumbled before coming to rest on its belly. The post accident engine inspection revealed that the number 7 cylinder was cracked along the cylinder fins and around the top and bottom spark plug holes. The cylinder was removed revealing a crack along the inside portion of the combustion chamber of the cylinder head from spark plug hole to spark plug hole in-between the intake and exhaust valves. The engine logbooks entries did not show removal of the number 7 cylinder at any time between the last overhaul in 1999 and the date of the accident. The last inspection took place 5 months prior to the accident. The reasons for the cracks were not determined.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.