NTSB Factual Report

On August 9, 2005, approximately 1755 central daylight time, a single-engine Grumman G-164 agricultural airplane, N9041Q, was substantially damaged during a forced landing following a loss of power while maneuvering near Corning, Arkansas. The commercial pilot, the sole occupant of the airplane, was not injured. The airplane was registered to a private individual and operated by Corning Farm Supply, Inc., of Corning Arkansas, under 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 137 as an aerial application flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and a flight plan had not been filed for the local flight.

According to a written statement submitted by the 1,013-hour pilot, he was making the last pass before returning for another load, when he heard a "pop, and the engine started missing." He lined up for a forced landing on a grass strip, that was about a quarter of a mile from his location. However, the airplane impacted a muddy field approximately 200 yards short of the landing threshold of the airstrip. He further stated that, "the airplane bounced once and struck the muddy field again and flipped over", coming to rest in the inverted position. The pilot reported that the number one cylinder head on the radial engine had cracked and separated from the barrel.

An examination of the airplane by a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector, who traveled to the scene of the accident, revealed structural damage to the fuselage when the empennage separated from the airplane.

At 1755, the automated weather observing system at Walnut Ridge Regional Airport (ARG), approximately 20 miles southwest of the accident site, reported wind at 100 degrees at 04 knots, 09 statute miles visibility, a clear sky, 90 Fahrenheit, dew point 72 degrees Fahrenheit, and an altimeter setting of 29.96 inches of Mercury.

NTSB Probable Cause

The loss of engine power due to the failure of the #1 cylinder head. A contributing factor was the lack of suitable terrain for the forced landing.