- Date
- August 27, 1987, 09:07 local (14:07 UTC)
- Place
- Tillar, AR
- Injuries
- 1 serious
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Approach
- Aircraft
- N3159XAir Tractor AT-301
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report February 24, 1989
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19870827049139A
- Case key
- 34266
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
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 stated that the prop RPM became erratic. On approach, the prop ran completely out of control, causing the aircraft to nose down into a plowed field just short of the landing area. The a/c hit on the main landing gear, broke them off, then it nosed over. Inspection of the propeller found that all of the dowel pins that fix the dome stationary to the hub assembly had failed. This failure was the result of the barrel shims being partially installed along the edge of the dome instead of flat against the dome shelf in the hub. The result was the blades becoming disengaged from the gearing.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N3159X
- Reported as
- Air Tractor AT-301
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 301-0475
- Airframe hours
- 2,807
- Engine
- P&W R-1340-AN1, 600 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial application · Part 137
- Operator
- Robert R. Jacobs., doing business as Jacobs Flying Service
- Registered owner
- Delta Sprayers, Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate
- Special, Restricted (Special)
- Last inspection
- Annual · March 6, 1987 · 607 hours before
- Departed
- AR04 · Tillar, AR
- Airport
- AR04
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
- 33
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Seat
- Center
- Flight hours
- 6,500 total · 2,600 in this make and model · 6,248 as pilot in command · 60 in the last 90 days · 30 in the last 30 days · 4 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 22° at 5 knots
- Visibility
- 7 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 10,000 ft broken
- Temperature
- 82 °F, dew point 73 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.00 inHg
- Observed at
- PBF, 40 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.