20070620014719A

Accident · Destroyed

FAA accident report · Airtrc AT-301 · Fergus Falls, MN · June 20, 2007

Date: June 20, 2007 · 08:00 local
Place: Fergus Falls, MN
Phase of flight: Fcd/Prec Ldg From Cruise
Operating rules: Agricultural (Part 137)
Operator: R4LG
Damage: Destroyed
Aircraft: N23667
NTSB investigation: NTSBCHI07LA173
Reported as: Airtrc AT301
Reported engine: Pratt & Whitney R1340AN1
People aboard: 1
Fatal injuries: 0
Pilot’s flight hours: 3,501 total300 in this make and model65 in the last 90 days

N23667Registration cancelled Mar 27, 2017 · Air Tractor AT-301S/N 301-0410 · 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) While in cruise flight at approximately 1500 AGL, the aircraft started to vibrate violently. The propeller speed ring came off (aircraft area encasing the propeller). Then the left side door came open. The windshield became covered with pesticide fluid as well as the pilot's eyes. The pilot claims he could not maintain level flight nor could he see anything. The pilot made an emergency landing in a field. Once he landed the aircraft flipped over.

As the FAA filed it

(-23) WHILE IN CRUISE FLIGHT AT APPROXIMATELY 1500 AGL, THE AIRCRAFT STARTED TO VIBRATE VIOLENTLY. THE PROPELLER SPEED RING CAME OFF (AIRCRAFT AREA ENCASING THE PROPELLER). THEN THE LEFT SIDE DOOR CAME OPEN. THE WINDSHIELD BECAME COVERED WITH PESTICIDE FLUID AS WELL AS THE PILOT'S EYES. THE PILOT CLAIMS HE COULD NOT MAINTAIN LEVEL FLIGHT NOR COULD HE SEE ANYTHING. THE PILOT MADE AN EMERGENCY LANDING IN A FIELD. ONCE HE LANDED THE AIRCRAFT FLIPPED OVER.

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 CHI07LA173Accident · Minor injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportFergus Falls, MNThe propeller blade failure during climb due to a fatigue crack. The oil leak that obstructed the pilot's vision was a factor in the accident.Jun 20, 2007 · Substantial damage