# Accident 20020822021999A: Airtrc AT301, Dospalos, CA, August 22, 2002

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: August 22, 2002, 07:15 local time
- Place: Dospalos, CA
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Operating rules: Agricultural (Part 137)
- Location: 36.9622° N, 120.6300° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.9622&lon=-120.6300&mi=10
- Aircraft: N8793S, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8793S-2008-02-13) (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
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB LAX02LA257](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX02LA257) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20020822021999A

## Narrative

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

(-23) ONE PROPELLER BLADE FAILED/LOSS OF A PORTION OF THE BLADE. ENGINE VIBRATION CAUSED FAILURE OF THE ENGINE MOUNT. THE P&W R1340 ENGINE SEPARATED FROM THE AIRFRAME AT TOUCH DOWN IN AN OPEN FIELD. (.19) ON AUGUST 22, 2002, AT 0700 PACIFIC DAYLIGHT TIME, AN AIR TRACTOR AT-301, N8793S, MADE A FORCED LANDING IN A NEWLY DISKED FIELD AFTER LOSING A PORTION OF A PROPELLER BLADE, AND CAME TO REST INVERTED. THE AIRPLANE, OPERATED BY SPAIN AIR UNDER THE PROVISIONS OF 14 CFR PART 137 AS A CROP DUSTING OPERATION, SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE. THE COMMERCIAL PILOT, THE SOLE OCCUPANT, WAS NOT INJURED. VISUAL METROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED FOR THE LOCAL AREA FLIGHT AND NO FLIGHT PLAN HAD BEEN FILED. THE FLIGHT DEPARTED A PRIVATE AIRSTRIP ABOUT 0650. ACCORDING TO THE PILOT, HE HAD BEEN CROP DUSTING SINCE MIDNIGHT. THERE WERE NO MECHANICAL ANOMALIES NOTED DURING THAT TIME. ON THE ACCIDENT FLIGHT PART OF THE PROPELLER BLADE CAME OFF. THE PILOT STATED THAT THE ENGINE STARTED TO VIBRATE AND HE MADE AN EMERGENCY LANDING IN A COTTON FIELD. ON THE LANDING ROLLOUT THE LANDING GEAR CAUGHT ON THE SOFT DIRT AND THE AIRPLANE NOSED OVER INVERTED.

## 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 LAX02LA257](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX02LA257), Aug 22, 2002: Air Tractor AT-301 (N8793S), Dos Palos, CA, substantial damage. Probable cause: the failure of the propeller blade due to fatigue. Factors in the accident were the inadequate maintenance-repair of the blade, and, inadequate pilot preflight inspections.

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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