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January 15, 2009 · Air Tractor AT-301 · N3170C

Beaver, UT

Overview

Report Status
Final with probable cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
January 15, 2009
Injury Outcomes
1 injury (1 minor injury)
Location
Beaver, UT
Aircraft
Air Tractor AT-301
Tail Number
N3170C
Injuries
Minor
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
WPR09LA085

While maneuvering during an aerial application flight, the pilot noted that the engine began to vibrate and lose power. During the forced landing, the airplane nosed over on the snow-covered terrain. The airplane was recovered from the accident site and examined. No internal engine components were found to have malfunctioned. One of the propeller blade's pitch change pins was observed sheared.

NTSB Probable Cause

A loss of engine power while maneuvering due to a sheared propeller blade's pitch change link. Contributing to the accident was lack of suitable terrain for the forced landing.

Full Narrative

On January 15, 2009, about 0845 mountain standard time, an Air Tractor AT-301, N3170C, operated by Flying B Aviation, LLC, experienced an engine vibration and partial loss of power while maneuvering during an aerial application flight about 10 miles southeast of Beaver, Utah. The pilot made a forced landing on a snow-covered field. During roll out the airplane nosed over, bending a wing and rudder. The commercial certificated pilot sustained a minor injury, and the airplane was substantially damaged. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time, and no flight plan had been filed. The flight was performed under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 137, and it originated from Beaver about 0830. The pilot verbally reported to the National Transportation Safety Board investigator that, while he was seeding the designated area, the engine started vibrating very badly. The Pratt & Whitney R-1340 engine had been overhauled several times, and he suspected a mechanical malfunction had occurred. The airplane was subsequently recovered from the accident site and examined under Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) supervision. In summary, the FAA inspector reported finding no evidence of internal engine malfunction when the crankshaft was rotated. No contaminating material was observed in the oil, which looked clean. The FAA inspector reported one observation that, in his opinion, may have related to the vibration reported by the pilot. The FAA inspector stated that one of the propeller's pitch change steel pins, which changes the beta angle of the propeller blade, was found sheared in two. No "Aircraft Accident Report" NTSB form 6120.1, was received by the Safety Board from the pilot/operator.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time08:45 MST
Nearest Airport0nm
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftAir Tractor AT-301
Tail NumberN3170C
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageSubstantial
Operating RulePart 137
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsP&W · R1340 SERIES · Reciprocating · 600
Seats1

People & Injuries

Injury Summary1 injury (1 minor injury)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor1
Uninjured0
Total1
Crew 1Age 36 · Second Class · Minor

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
WindCalm
Visibility10 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point19 C / 18 C
Altimeter30.42 inHg
Observation Time15:52
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data