# NTSB ERA09CA054: Snow 600, N1691S, Nashville, TN, November 14, 2008 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: November 14, 2008, 11:40 local (17:40 UTC) - Place: Nashville, TN - Coordinates: 36.104999, -86.561943 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.1050&lon=-86.5619&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Enroute-cruise: Powerplant sys/comp malf/fail](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/340) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report January 22, 2009 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 69445 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA09CA054 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/69445/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA09CA054 ## Probable cause The failure of the propeller shaft seal in flight. Contributing to the accident was the lack of suitable terrain for a forced landing. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Engine (reciprocating): recip eng front section](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058510): Aircraft › Aircraft power plant · Malfunction (probable cause); cases with it: [Snow 600-S2C, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058510/cases.md?model=8380302), [All aircraft, 13 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058510/cases.md) - [Terrain](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021000): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Ability to respond/compensate (probable cause); cases with it: [Snow 600-S2C, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021000/cases.md?model=8380302), [All aircraft, 267 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021000/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Enroute-cruise: Powerplant sys/comp malf/fail](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/340) (defining event); cases with it: [Snow 600-S2C, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/340/sequence.md?model=8380302), [All aircraft, 820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/340/sequence.md) - [Emergency descent: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440); cases with it: [Snow 600-S2C, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=8380302), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md) - [Landing: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Snow 600-S2C, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=8380302), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The owner of the Snow 600 aerial application airplane stated that the airplane had not been flown “in some time.” The airplane was equipped with a Pratt & Whitney R-1340 series engine. According to the pilot, he agreed to reposition the airplane to another airport as a favor for the owner. The day before the flight, the pilot examined the airplane, and conducted an engine run-up to assure himself that the airplane appeared to be acceptable for flight. He reported some minor airframe discrepancies to the owner, and these were rectified prior to the accident flight. The airplane was not flown between the pilot's initial examination and the accident flight. Several minutes after takeoff on the positioning flight, the pilot noted that oil began to coat his windshield, and he saw white smoke emanating from the engine area. He selected a field for a forced landing, and conducted an uneventful touchdown. During the rollout, the right wing struck a tree, approximately 3 feet inboard from the wingtip. The airplane partially rotated around the tree, and the right main landing gear and tailwheel were damaged. Postaccident examination by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector and a mechanic revealed that oil had leaked from an undetermined location at the forward end of the engine near the propeller shaft and hub assembly. ## Factual narrative The owner of the Snow 600 aerial application airplane stated that the airplane had not been flown “in some time.” The airplane was equipped with a Pratt & Whitney R-1340 series engine. According to the pilot, he agreed to reposition the airplane to another airport as a favor for the owner. The day before the flight, the pilot examined the airplane, and conducted an engine run-up to assure himself that the airplane appeared to be acceptable for flight. He reported some minor airframe discrepancies to the owner, and these were rectified prior to the accident flight. The airplane was not flown between the pilot’s initial examination and the accident flight. Several minutes after takeoff on the positioning flight, the pilot noted that oil began to coat his windshield, and he saw white smoke emanating from the engine area. He selected a field for a forced landing, and conducted an uneventful touchdown. During the rollout, the right wing struck a tree, approximately 3 feet inboard from the wingtip. The airplane partially rotated around the tree, and the right main landing gear and tailwheel were damaged. Post accident examination by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector and a mechanic revealed that oil had leaked from an undetermined location at the forward end of the engine near the propeller shaft and hub assembly. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N1691S](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N1691S-2012-08-10), registration cancelled 2012-08-10, S/N 600-1273C, built 1965 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Snow 600 (S2C) - Registry model: [Snow 600-S2C](https://openairdocs.org/model/snow-600-s2c) (registry code 8380302) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Pratt & Whitney R1340 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-r1340-series) (registry code 52016, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 600-1273C - Airframe hours: 5505 - Engines: Pratt & Whitney R 1340 600 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Positioning, Part 91 - Operator: Ewing Dusting Service - Registered owner: Ewing Dusting Service - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, February 20, 1991 - Departed: BNA, Nashville, TN - Destination: THA, Tullahoma, TN ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 60; injuries: none; airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: helicopter, airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review September 15, 2008; seat: single; flight hours: 13,500 total, 1,500 in this make and model, 13,250 as pilot in command, 95 in the last 90 days, 5 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 170° at 7 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 10,000 ft overcast - Temperature: 63 °F, dew point 55 °F - Altimeter: 29.80 inHg - Observed at: BNA, 6 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 20081114851049A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20081114851049A), Nov 14, 2008: Ayres 600S2C, Long Hunter St, TN, Substantial damage. (-23) Aircraft departed bna airport to the east for 8-9 miles when the prop began slinging oil. The pilot spotted an open field and attempted a landing, upon… 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.