# Accident 20170809012859A: Air Tractor Inc AT-802A, Galesburg, IL, August 9, 2017

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: August 9, 2017, 07:30 local time
- Place: Galesburg, IL
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Maneuver
- Operating rules: Agricultural (Part 137)
- Operator: L8CG
- Location: 40.9731° N, 90.3036° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.9731&lon=-90.3036&mi=10
- Aircraft: N528MB, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N528MB) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Air Tractor AT-802A (registry code 0390308, https://openairdocs.org/model/air-tractor-at-802a) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-67AG (registry code 52211, https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-canada-pt6a-67ag) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: AIR TRACTOR INC AT-802A
- Reported engine: P&W CANADA PT6A-67AG
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CEN17LA309](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN17LA309) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20170809012859A

## Narrative

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

ON AUGUST 9, 2017, ABOUT 0730 CENTRAL DAYLIGHT TIME, AN AIR TRACTOR AT-802A, N528MB, SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE DURING A FORCED LANDING NEAR GALESBURG, ILLINOIS. THE COMMERCIAL PILOT WAS NOT INJURED. THE AIRPLANE WAS REGISTERED TO AND OPERATED UNDER THE PROVISIONS OF 14 CODE OF FEDERAL REGULATIONS PART 137 WITHOUT A FLIGHT PLAN. DAY VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED FOR THE LOCAL AERIAL-APPLICATION FLIGHT THAT DEPARTED AT 0630 FROM MONMOUTH MUNICIPAL AIRPORT (C66), MONMOUTH, ILLINOIS.

THE PILOT REPORTED THAT THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED ABOUT AN HOUR INTO HIS FIRST AERIAL-APPLICATION FLIGHT OF THE DAY. HE STATED THAT HE FELT A SLIGHT "THUD OR BUMP" THAT HE INITIALLY BELIEVED WAS THE AIRPLANE FLYING THROUGH ITS OWN PROPELLER WASH DURING A TURN. THE PILOT STATED THAT THE ENGINE GAUGES WERE INDICATING NORMAL PARAMETERS AS HE CONTINUED TO LINE-UP FOR ANOTHER SPRAY PASS; HOWEVER, BEFORE HIS NEXT SPRAY PASS THE ENGINE EXPERIENCED A SIMILAR "THUD" THAT THE PILOT IDENTIFIED AS A COMPRESSOR STALL. THE PILOT ENTERED A CLIMB TO GAIN SAFE ALTITUDE AND MANEUVERED THE AIRPLANE AWAY FROM NEARBY HOMES. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT THE ENGINE EXPERIENCED SEVERAL MORE COMPRESSOR STALLS AND OBSERVED SPARKS DEPARTING THE ENGINE EXHAUST DUCTS BEFORE IT EXPERIENCED A TOTAL LOSS OF POWER. THE PILOT STATED THAT A FORCED LANDING WAS MADE IN A NEARBY AGRICULTURAL FIELD, AND THAT THE AIRPLANE GROUND-LOOPED UPON LANDING IN THE DENSE CROP. THE LANDING GEAR COLLAPSED AND THERE WAS SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE TO THE OUTBOARD RIGHT WING AND AILERON.

THE ENGINE, A PRATT & WHITNEY PT6A-67AG, SERIAL NUMBER PCE-RD0221, WAS RETAINED FOR A TEARDOWN EXAMINATION BY NTSB.

## 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 CEN17LA309](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN17LA309), Aug 9, 2017: Air Tractor AT-802A (N528MB), Galesburg, IL, substantial damage. Probable cause: A total loss of engine power due to the fracture of a single 1st stage compressor rotor airfoil in high-cycle fatigue as a result of the erosion and thinning of the airfoil's leading edge.…

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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