- Date
- June 11, 1995, 09:30 local (14:30 UTC)
- Place
- Hoxie, KS
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Enroute
- Aircraft
- N23477Air Tractor AT-301
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report October 19, 1995
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19950611020479A
- Case key
- 9925
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
the loss of engine power due to the loose nut on the adjustment screw and the jammed exhaust valve on the number three cylinder. A factor in the accident was the ditch.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
The pilot reported he was en route for an aerial application operation when the engine began to sputter approximately four miles after departure. He stated there were no abnormal indications on any of the engine instruments or throttle quadrant. The engine then lost all power and the pilot made a forced landing on a road. While landing, the airplane's landing gear struck a ditch and the airplane came to rest in an inverted position. Postaccident examination revealed the nut (p/n 9294) on the adjusting screw for the number three cylinder was loose. Due to the excessive clearance, the exhaust valve was not able to open.
Factual narrative
On June 11, 1995, at 0930 central daylight time (CDT), an Air Tractor AT-301, N23477, operated by Lemaster Aerial Spraying, Inc., Ottawa, Kansas, was substantially damaged following a loss of engine power and subsequent forced landing on a road in Hoxie, Kansas. The pilot reported no injuries. The 14 CFR Part 137 aerial application flight originated from the Hoxie-Sheridan County Airport, Hoxie, Kansas, without a flight plan at 0915 CDT. Visual meteorological conditions existed at the time of the accident.
The pilot reported he was en route for an aerial application operation. Approximately four miles after departure, the pilot stated the engine began to sputter. He stated there was no abnormal indications on any of the engine instruments or throttle quadrant. The engine then lost all power and the pilot made a forced landing on a small road. While landing the airplane's landing gear struck a ditch and the airplane came to rest inverted.
Postaccident examination revealed the nut (P/N 9294) on the adjusting screw for the number three cylinder was loose. Due to the excessive clearance, the exhaust valve was not able to open.
The airplane logbook shows the last inspection was a 100 hour inspection performed on December 5, 1994. The airplane has logged 188.5 hours since the inspection.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N23477
- Reported as
- Air Tractor AT-301
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 301-0390
- Airframe hours
- 3,355
- Engine
- P&W R-1340, 600 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial application · Part 137
- Registered owner
- Lemaster Aerial Spraying Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate
- Special, Restricted (Special)
- Last inspection
- Annual · December 5, 1995 · 188 hours before
- Departed
- KS01
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 41
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Center
- Flight hours
- 5,630 total · 700 in this make and model · 5,452 as pilot in command · 225 in the last 90 days · 100 in the last 30 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 310° at 6 knots
- Visibility
- 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 79 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.00 inHg
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.