Grumman G164 N956X

Summary

On 29 August 2018 at about 16:30 local time, a Grumman G164 registered N956X was involved in an accident near Opelousas, Louisiana, 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

29 August 2018 at 16:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Opelousas, Louisiana, United States

Coordinates

30.5408, -92.2036

Aircraft

Grumman G164

Registration

N956X

Category

Airplane

Year built

1968

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Church Point → Church Point

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

CEN18LA357

Nobody was injured.

The loss of two securing bolts that allowed the left magneto to move around, which disrupted the spark timing and resulted in the engine losing total power.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The private pilot was practicing crop-dusting maneuvers when the engine lost total power; he performed a forced landing in an open, muddy field. The airplane nosed over and sustained substantial damage. Postaccident examination of the engine revealed that two of three bolts that secured the left magneto had come loose and were missing. The safety wire was broken, and the Sims coupling was heavily damaged. The magneto could easily be moved around, which disrupted the spark timing and resulted in a total loss of power.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.