- Date
- August 1, 1994, 19:00 local (Aug 2, 1994, 00:00 UTC)
- Place
- Mcgehee, AR
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Enroute
- Aircraft
- N45297Air Tractor AT-401
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report November 14, 1994
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19940801019969A
- Case key
- 19129
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
Total loss of engine power as the engine seized due to a blower bearing failure. A factor was the lack of suitable terrain for the forced landing.
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
Aerial application work was completed at one location. The airplane was in cruise flight at 700 feet above the ground to another location, when a total loss of engine power occurred. An emergency descent and approach was made to a cotton turn row. During the landing roll on the rough turn row, the airplane ground looped. Examination of the engine revealed the failure of a bearing in the blower section caused the engine to seize.
Factual narrative
On August 1, 1994, at 1900 central daylight time, an Air Tractor AT-401, N45297, was substantially damaged during a forced landing near McGehee, Arkansas. The commercial pilot was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the aerial application flight.
The pilot and operator reported the following information. The flight departed the Weatherly Farm near Kelso, Arkansas, at 1845. The airplane was being ferried to Jerome, Arkansas, for additional aerial application flights. During cruise at 700 feet above the ground, a total mechanical loss of engine power occurred. An emergency descent and approach was made to a cotton turn row. During the landing roll on the rough turn row, the airplane ground looped.
An examination of the engine by the FAA inspector and the operator revealed the engine was mechanically seized. The operator reported a bearing failure in the engine blower section caused the power loss.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N45297
- Reported as
- Air Tractor AT-401
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 401-0760
- Engine
- P&W R-1340-AN1, 600 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Ferry · Part 91
- Operator
- Evans Flying Service
- Registered owner
- D & M Farms Flying Service
- Airworthiness certificate
- Special, Restricted (Special)
- Departed
- NONE · Kelso, AR
- Destination
- NONE · Jerome, AR
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
- 29
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land, Multi-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Seat
- Center
- Flight hours
- 5,000 total · 1,000 in this make and model · 4,900 as pilot in command · 300 in the last 90 days · 100 in the last 30 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Visibility
- 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 90 °F
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.
Other investigations on N45297 · 2
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.