Primary finding
Probable cause
the loss of power for undetermined reasons.
Investigator assessment
Analysis narrative
The pilot was beginning a local aerial application flight. During the takeoff roll from the 2300 foot long privately owned dirt airstrip, the airplane engine began to lose power and shake violently. The pilot jettisoned the chemicals and aborted the takeoff. The remaining runway, however, was insufficient and the airplane overran the departure end of the runway and collided with a chain link fence. The engine examination disclosed no evidence of any pre-existing malfunctions or failures.
Source record
Factual narrative
On October 19, 1993, at 1350 Pacific daylight time, a Grumman G-164B, N7501K, lost engine power, hit a chain link fence, and ground looped while taking off from a privately owned airstrip near Arvin, California. The pilot was beginning a local visual flight rules aerial application flight conducted under Title 14 CFR Part 137. The airplane, operated by San Joaquin Helicopters, Delano, California, and the chain link fence sustained substantial damage. The certificated commercial pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. The pilot reported that during the takeoff roll the engine began to lose power and shake violently when it was about two-thirds down the 2300 foot long runway and started to shake violently. The pilot jettisoned the chemical load before exiting the runway environment and colliding with the fence. An engine examination was conducted on December 2, 1993, at the operators facility. Mr. Gregory Minarik, Aviation Safety Inspector, Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Fresno [California] Flight Standards District Office, supervised the examination. Inspector Minarik reported that the examination disclosed no evidence of any pre-existing malfunctions or failures. (See Inspector Minarik's Engine Teardown Memorandum, herein this report, for further details of the examination). -