# NTSB ATL03LA122: Air Tractor AT401B, N61227, Girard, GA, July 30, 2003

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: July 30, 2003, 16:15 local (20:15 UTC)
- Place: Girard, GA
- Coordinates: 33.36972, -81.964447
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.3697&lon=-81.9644&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report June 30, 2004
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Parties: Atlanta FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 57612
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL03LA122
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/57612/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL03LA122

## Probable cause

A loss of engine power due to the failure of the internal supercharger blower seals.

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Loss of engine power(total) - mech failure/malf, takeoff - initial climb
  - eng assembly,blower/impeller/integral supercharger - failure,partial (cause)
- Forced landing, emergency descent/landing
- In flight collision with object, emergency descent/landing
  - object - tree(s)

## Analysis

According to the pilot, during climb-out the engine lost power. The pilot continued on the takeoff heading and the airplane collided with trees during an emergency descent. Examination of the engine revealed the engine blower seals failed. Engine oil was found in the combustion chamber and the spark plug electrodes were saturated with oil.

## Factual narrative

On July 30, 2003 at 1615 eastern daylight time, an Air Tractor AT401B, N61227, registered to and operated by D and D Spraying Inc., collided with the ground during climb-out from a private airstrip in Girard, Georgia. The agricultural flight was conducted under the provisions of Title 14 CFR part 137. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The airplane sustained substantial damage and the pilot was not injured. The flight departed the private strip in Girard, Georgia, on July 30, 2003 at 1600.

According to the pilot, he loaded the airplane to complete a spraying operation in a nearby field. During the climb-out approximately 100 feet the engine lost power. The pilot continued on takeoff heading and collided with trees during an emergency descent. Examination of the airplane revealed the wings and the fuselage were buckled. Examination of the Pratt & Whitney 1340 AN-1 radial engine revealed the engine supercharger blower seals failed. Engine oil was found in the combustion chamber and the spark plug electrodes were saturated with oil.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N61227](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N61227-2006-04-19), registration cancelled 2006-04-19, S/N 401B-0978, built 1995 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Air Tractor AT401B
- Registry model: [Air Tractor AT-401B](https://openairdocs.org/model/air-tractor-at-401b) (registry code 0390207) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Pratt & Whitney R1340 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-r1340-series) (registry code 52016, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 401B-0978
- Airframe hours: 2090
- Engines: Pratt & Whitney R1340 600 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Aerial application, Part 137
- Registered owner: D & D Spraying Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special)
- Last inspection: Annual, March 18, 2003, 76 hours before
- Departed: Girard, GA
- Destination: Girard, GA

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 55; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: front; flight hours: 16,350 total, 16,230 in this make and model, 16,350 as pilot in command

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 0° at 0 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 77 °F, dew point 72 °F
- Altimeter: 30.01 inHg
- Observed at: KAGS

## FAA reports on this event (1)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 20030730022349A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20030730022349A), Jul 30, 2003: Airtrc AT401B, Girard, GA, Substantial damage. (-23) Aircraft lifted off from private strip and engine lost power. Pilot landed in the field across the road and slid into the trees at the end of the field.…

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.

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