# Accident 20000713009709A: Airtrc AT401, Blythe, CA, July 13, 2000

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: July 13, 2000, 07:15 local time
- Place: Blythe, CA
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Fcd/Prec Ldg From Cruise
- Operating rules: Agricultural (Part 137)
- Operator: ROXG
- Location: 33.7503° N, 114.5106° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.7503&lon=-114.5106&mi=10
- Aircraft: N4508Y, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4508Y-2022-11-23) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Air Tractor AT-401 (registry code 0390204, https://openairdocs.org/model/air-tractor-at-401) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Pratt & Whitney PT6A series (registry code 52034, https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-pt6a-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: AIRTRC AT401
- Reported engine: PWA R1340AN1
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 4,006 total, 41 in this make and model, 150 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB LAX00LA271](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX00LA271) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20000713009709A

## Narrative

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

(-23) AIRCRAFT DEPARTED AT APPROXIMATELY 0700, JULY 14, 2000 FROM BLYTHE, CA. AIRPORT ON A ROUTINE AGRICULTURAL SPRAYING OPERATION.  AT APPROXIMATELY 0720 AFTER SPRAYING TWO FIELDS, PILOT NOTICED SEVERE ENGINE VIBRATIONS AND ATTEMTED TO LAND ON A FIELD EAST OF NEIGHBORS, NORTH OF 28TH AVENUE, IN BLYTHE, CA.  DURING EMERGENCY LANDING THE AIRCRAFTS MAIN LANDING GEAR STRUCK AN IRRIGATION CANAL SOIL EMBANKMENT CAUSING AIRCRAFT TO GET AIRBORNE ONCE AGAIN FOR APPROXIAMTELY 75-100' COMING NOSE DOWN, FLIPPING AND COMING TO REST ON ITS BACK IN A COTTON FIELD.                                           AMENDMENT:                                                                 ENGINE TEARDOWN OF ENGINE R1340N1, S/N ZP102256 REVEALED THAT NO. 7 PISTON ROD ASSEMBLY FRACTURE.                                                     (.4) ON JULY 13, 2000, ABOUT 0715 HOURS PACIFIC DAYLIGHT TIME, AN AIR TRACTOR AT-401, N4508Y, OPERATED BY FARMERS AERIAL SERVICE, INC., BLYTHE, CALIFORNIA, EXPERIENCED A PARTIAL LOSS OF ENGINE POWER DURING AN AERIAL APPLICATION FLIGHT NEAR RIPLEY, CALIFORNIA. UNABLE TO MAINTAIN ALTITUDE, THE PILOT MADE A FORCED LANDING IN A COTTON FIELD. DURING ROLLOUT, THE AIRPLANE COLLID ED WITH AN IRRIGATION CANAL SOIL EMBANKMENT AND NOSED OVER. THE AIRPLANE WAS SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED, AND THE COMMERCIAL CERTIFICATED PILOT WAS NOT INJURED. VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED DURING THE FLIGHT THAT WAS PERFORMED UNDER 14 CFR PART 137. THE FLIGHT ORIGINATED FROM BLYTHE ABOUT 0700. UNDER THE SUPERVISION OF A FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION AIRWORTHINESS INSPECTOR, THE ENGINE WAS PARTIALLY TORN DOWN AND EXAMINED. THE INSPECTOR REPORTED FINDING THE CONNECTING ROD ASSOCIATED WITH THE NO. 7 CYLINDER SEVERED AT ITS MIDPOINT LOCATION. ALSO, THE ROD HAD SEPARATED FROM THE CRANKSHAFT. THE INSPECTOR INDICATED THAT THE ROD'S SEPARATION FROM THE CRANK PRECIPITATED ITS MIDPOINT BREAK. THE CONNECTING ROD PIECES WERE SEVERELY PEENED AND MECHANICALLY DAMAGED. NO OTHER EVIDENCE OF ANY PREEXISTING FAILURES OR MALFUNCTIONS WAS NOTED. THE ENGINE'S TOTAL TIME WAS REPORTED AT 5,267 HOURS. IT HAD BEEN OPERATED FOR 475 HOURS SINCE RECEIVING ITS LAST MAJOR OVERHAUL.

## 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 LAX00LA271](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX00LA271), Jul 13, 2000: Air Tractor AT-401 (N4508Y), Ripley, CA, substantial damage. Probable cause: A loss of engine power due to the separation of a connecting rod from the crankshaft.

## Other reports on N4508Y (1)

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.

- [Accident 20040519016339A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20040519016339A), May 19, 2004: Airtrc AT401 (N4508Y), San Angelo, TX, Substantial damage. (-23) On may 19, 2004, approximately 0700 CDT, an air tractor AT-401 N4508Y sustained substantial damage when it crashed following a loss of power during…

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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