20030620010889A

Accident · Substantial damage

FAA accident report · Airtrc AT-301 · South Haven, MI · June 20, 2003

Date: June 20, 2003 · 10:50 local
Place: South Haven, MI
Phase of flight: Fcd/Prec Ldg From Cruise
Operating rules: Agricultural (Part 137)
Operator: RCDG
Damage: Substantial damage
Aircraft: N3659T
NTSB investigation: NTSBCHI03LA170
Reported as: Airtrc AT301
Reported engine: Pratt & Whitney R1340AN1
Fatal injuries: 0
Pilot’s flight hours: 5,150 total1,675 in this make and model103 in the last 90 days

N3659TRegistered now · Air Tractor AT-301S/N 301-0329 · Built 1981 Airframe modelAir Tractor AT-301 Engine modelPratt & Whitney R1340 seriesReciprocating

From the FAA’s Accident/Incident Data System (AIDS), through its Aviation Safety Information Portal, as reported. The NTSB investigates accidents separately, and its record of an accident is the fuller one. The aircraft is matched to the registry 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.

What happened

The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.

(-23) On 06/20/03, the subject aircraft took off from the home base (South Haven) airport at approximately 8:50 am to do aerial spraying in hager township. Upon returning to the base of operation in South Haven, pilot experienced an exhaust back fire twice in flight and took a precautionary landing in the field which is about 7 miles from South Haven airport (0D1). During the landing the aircraft flipped over and caused substantial damage to the structure and damaged the propeller and canopy. Pilot received minor injury and later released from the hospital without any restriction. There is some chemical left in the aircraft at the time of the accident, but most of it are contained in the system. This accident is under further investigation.

As the FAA filed it

(-23) ON 06/20/03, THE SUBJECT AIRCRAFT TOOK OFF FROM THE HOME BASE (SOUTH HAVEN) AIRPORT AT APPROXIMATELY 8:50 AM TO DO AERIAL SPRAYING IN HAGER TOWNSHIP. UPON RETURNING TO THE BASE OF OPERATION IN SOUTH HAVEN, PILOT EXPERIENCED AN EXHAUST BACK FIRE TWICE IN FLIGHT AND TOOK A PRECAUTIONARY LANDING IN THE FIELD WHICH IS ABOUT 7 MILES FROM SOUTH HAVEN AIRPORT (0D1). DURING THE LANDING THE AIRCRAFT FLIPPED OVER AND CAUSED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE TO THE STRUCTURE AND DAMAGED THE PROPELLER AND CANOPY. PILOT RECEIVED MINOR INJURY AND LATER RELEASED FROM THE HOSPITAL WITHOUT ANY RESTRICTION. THERE IS SOME CHEMICAL LEFT IN THE AIRCRAFT AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT, BUT MOST OF IT ARE CONTAINED IN THE SYSTEM. THIS ACCIDENT IS UNDER FURTHER INVESTIGATION.

NTSB investigation

The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.

NTSB CHI03LA170Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportCovert, MIFailure of the pilot to verify fuel quantity prior to the accident flight, and fuel exhaustion resulting in a loss of engine power. Contributing factors were the soft, rough, unsuitable terrain for a forced landing.Jun 20, 2003 · Substantial damage

Other reports on N3659T · 1

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

Accident 19980731019399ARoll-Out (Fixed Wing) · Mentha, MIVeered off road into ditch and cornfield landing. Bent wings and gear. (.4)the pilot of an aerial applicator airplane landed his airplane on a road that had an uneven surface and was covered with lose gravel. The road had mature corn growing along its edges.…Jul 31, 1998 · Substantial damage