# Accident 19970829026839A: Airtrc AT301, Clewiston, FL, August 29, 1997

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: August 29, 1997, 13:30 local time
- Place: Clewiston, FL
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Fcd/Prec Ldg From Cruise
- Operating rules: Agricultural (Part 137)
- Operator: NGFG
- Location: 26.7501° N, 80.9295° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=26.7501&lon=-80.9295&mi=10
- Aircraft: N7307C, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N7307C-2012-08-22) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Air Tractor AT-301 (registry code 0390103, https://openairdocs.org/model/air-tractor-at-301) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Pratt & Whitney R1340 series (registry code 52016, https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-r1340-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: AIRTRC AT301
- Reported engine: PWA R1340AN1
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 9,215 total, 2,110 in this make and model, 242 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ATL97LA127](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL97LA127) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19970829026839A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

ENGINE SHAKING LOSING POWER. LANDED IN SOFT FIELD. NOSED OVER. NR 8 CYLINDER HAD CRACKED THRU SPARK PLUG HOLE. (-23) ON 08/29/97 AT APPROXIMATELY 1230 EASTERN TIME, A AIR TRACTOR AT-301, N7307C LOST ENGINE POWER AND MADE A FORCED LANDING INTO A FIELD AT CLEWISTON, FLORIDA. THE AIRCRAFT WAS OPERATED BY STORY AVIATION UNDER CFR 14, PART 137. INVESTIGATIONS REVEALED THAT #8 CYLINDER HEAD HAD A CRACK WHICH PROPAGATED THROUGH THE CENTER OF THE SPARK PLUG HOLE AND AROUND THE CYLINDER HEAD. THE PILOT WAS NOT INJURED, BUT, THE AIRCRAFT RECEIVED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE TO THE VERTICAL STABILIZER.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB ATL97LA127](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL97LA127), Aug 29, 1997: Air Tractor AT-301 (N7307C), Clewiston, FL, substantial damage. Probable cause: The crack in the #8 cylinder head which led to the loss of power. A factor was the soft terrain.

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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