# NTSB ATL95LA169: Air Tractor AT-301, N2362D, Plains, GA, September 16, 1995 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: September 16, 1995, 11:30 local (15:30 UTC) - Place: Plains, GA - Coordinates: 32.030899, -84.390701 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.0309&lon=-84.3907&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report April 29, 1996 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 3625 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL95LA169 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/3625/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL95LA169 ## Probable cause Failure of the number four cylinder rocker arm housing and pin, which resulted in a closed exhaust valve and loss of engine power. ## 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, maneuvering - aerial application - engine assembly,rocker arm/tappet - failure (cause) - Forced landing, emergency descent/landing - Nose over, emergency landing ## Analysis During the first spray run of an aerial application flight, the engine lost power. Subsequently, the aircraft nosed over during a forced landing and was damaged. An examination of the engine revealed that the number four cylinder rocker arm housing had fractured. The fracture surface had a rough, granular, and irregular appearance, typical of overload failure. There was evidence that when the rocker arm housing became separated from the cylinder, the rocker arm pin failed, allowing the rocker arm to separate from the cylinder and resulting in a loss of continuity to the exhaust valve. The exhaust valve then remained closed, and the engine lost power. ## Factual narrative On September 16, 1995, about 1130 eastern daylight time, an Air Tractor AT-301, N2362D, nosed over during a forced landing near Plains, Georgia. The airplane was operated by Gosa's Aerial Ag under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 137, and visual flight rules. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. A flight plan was not filed for the aerial application flight. The commercial pilot had minor injuries, and the airplane was substantially damaged. Origination of the flight was a local private field, about 15 minutes prior to the accident. According to the pilot, he was conducting the first spray run when the engine lost power. The pilot maneuvered the airplane to execute a forced landing into an empty pasture. The airplane landed hard, then nosed over during the landing roll, and was substantially damaged. The engine, a P & W R1340, had been overhauled about 25.6 flight hours prior to the accident. The functional engine exam revealed that the number four cylinder rocker arm housing had fractured. In the detailed photos provided by United States Aviation Underwriters, Inc. the fracture surface had a rough, granular, and irregular appearance. The engine's total hours and number of overhauls could not be determined from the aircraft records that were provided. The operator's report of the accident did list the total hours. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N2362D](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N2362D-2018-01-16), registration cancelled 2018-01-16, S/N 301-0404, built 1981 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: AIR TRACTOR AT-301 - Registry model: [Air Tractor AT-301](https://openairdocs.org/model/air-tractor-at-301) (registry code 0390103) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Pratt & Whitney R1340 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-r1340-series) (registry code 52016, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 0404 - Airframe hours: 5731 - Engines: P&W R1340-AN1 600 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Aerial application, Part 137 - Operator: Gosa'S Aerial Ag - Registered owner: Johnny & Trudy Gosa - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, March 22, 1995, 299 hours before - Departed: NONE ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 51; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; flight hours: 10,000 total, 2,500 in this make and model, 10,000 as pilot in command, 300 in the last 90 days, 100 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 5,000 ft broken - Temperature: 82 °F, dew point 77 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: AJC, 15 nm away ## 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 19950916029799A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19950916029799A), Sep 16, 1995: Airtrc AT301, Plains, GA, Substantial damage. Engine quit during spray run. Landed hard. Flipped over. NR3 cylinder rocker arm failed. ## Other investigations on N2362D (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 WPR11CA286](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR11CA286), Jun 24, 2011: Air Tractor AT301 (N2362D), Circle, MT, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to attain and maintain an adequate airspeed during initial climb. 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.