Boeing A75N1 N68251

Summary

On 29 July 1996 at about 13:15 local time, a Boeing A75N1 registered N68251 was involved in an accident near Tracy, California, United States. One person was on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

29 July 1996 at 13:15

Classification

Accident

Location

Tracy, California, United States

Coordinates

37.7304, -121.4205

Aircraft

Boeing A75N1

Registration

N68251

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 137: Agricultural

Purpose of flight

Aerial Application

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

LAX96LA291

Nobody was injured.

A loss of engine power due to the disengagement of the crankshaft gear from it's hub due to the overload shear of the eight retaining screws.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot reported that the engine quit while he was en route to a job and he landed in an alfalfa field. The aircraft collided with a ditch which was obscured by the crops. A postcrash fire erupted and consumed the aircraft. The aircraft was examined by an FAA airworthiness inspector. He reported that the engine crankshaft would rotate; however, no corresponding valve action was noted on any cylinder. The inspector observed a disassembly of the engine and reported that the eight screws which secure the crankshaft hub to the crankshaft gear had sheared. The crankshaft gear rotates all accessory drive gears, including the magnetos.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.