# NTSB DEN00LA072: Weatherly 201B, N1292W, Rocky Ford, CO, April 8, 2000 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: April 8, 2000, 10:25 local (16:25 UTC) - Place: Rocky Ford, CO - Coordinates: 38.040428, -103.720542 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.0404&lon=-103.7205&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report January 18, 2001 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 48921 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN00LA072 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/48921/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN00LA072 ## Probable cause A total loss of power due to an engine rocker arm failure and soft/unsuitable terrain during the subsequent forced landing. ## 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,total (cause) - Forced landing, emergency descent/landing - Nose over, landing - roll - terrain condition - soft (cause) - terrain condition - none suitable (cause) ## Analysis While on an aerial application flight conducting seeding from approximately 100 feet above ground level, the engine lost all power. The pilot made a forced landing in a plowed field and during the landing roll the aircraft nosed over causing damage to the fuselage aft of the cockpit area. Examination of the engine provided evidence of a rocker arm failure. ## Factual narrative On April 8, 2000, at 1025 mountain daylight time, a Weatherly 201B, N1292W, nosed over during landing roll on a forced landing near Rocky Ford, Colorado. The commercial pilot received minor injuries and the aircraft sustained substantial damage. The flight was operating under Title 14 CFR Part 137 and no flight plan was filed. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for this aerial application flight which departed Rocky Ford at 1008. According to the pilot, he was seeding a field and was flying at 80 to 100 feet above ground level (agl) with about 95 to 100 miles per hour (mph) indicated airspeed. He said the engine lost all power without any prior indication of the impending failure. In his statement, he said he attempted to check the magnetos, fuel selector, and turned the boost pump on without results. At approximately 30 feet agl, he abandoned trouble shooting and concentrated on the forced landing, which was to a plowed field. His statement said he touched down on the tail wheel at 45 to 50 mph. At about 30 mph the right main wheel dug in and the aircraft nosed over. Persons on the ground assisted the pilot from the aircraft. At the time of takeoff, the pilot estimated he had approximately 29 gallons of fuel on board the aircraft. The pilot said there was damage to the propeller and fuselage aft of the cockpit area. Examination of the engine provided evidence of a rocker arm failure. No reason for the failure could be determined. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N1292W](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N1292W), registered now, S/N 643, built 1975 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Weatherly 201B - Registry model: [Weatherly 201B](https://openairdocs.org/model/weatherly-201b) (registry code 9630408) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Pratt & Whitney R-985 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-r-985-series) (registry code 52008, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 643 - Airframe hours: 4167 - Engines: P&W R-985-AN1 450 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Aerial application, Part 137 - Registered owner: Mc Cuistion Aerial Applicators - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, May 4, 1999, 254 hours before - Departed: 2V8, CO ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 50; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: center; flight hours: 2,895 total, 283 in this make and model, 2,448 as pilot in command, 35 in the last 90 days, 30 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 210° at 4 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 52 °F, dew point 21 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20000408004809A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20000408004809A), Apr 8, 2000: Wthrly 201B, Rocky Ford, CO, No damage. (-23) Aircraft lost power at approximately 85' AGL and crash-landed while on an agricultural hayseed mission. The pilot and ground witness stated they heard a… ## Other investigations on N1292W (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 GAA15CA169](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA15CA169), Jun 22, 2015: Weatherly 201B (N1292W), Pemberton, NJ, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during the takeoff roll, which resulted in the airplane's left main landing gear impacting an unknown object, and subsequent collapse during… 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.