Air Tractor AT-401 N45029

Summary

On 12 August 2008 at about 22:30 local time, a Air Tractor AT-401 registered N45029, operated by Styron Aerial Application, was involved in an accident near Ida Grove, Iowa, United States. One person was on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

12 August 2008 at 22:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Ida Grove, Iowa, United States

Coordinates

42.3328, -95.4447

Aircraft

Air Tractor AT-401

Registration

N45029

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Styron Aerial Application

Operating rule

Part 137: Agricultural

Purpose of flight

Aerial Application

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Ida Grove → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

CHI08CA213

Nobody was injured.

A failure of the turbocharger blower which resulted in the partial loss of power. Factors associated with the accident were the low altitude of the airplane and the embankment.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot stated that the engine was producing 36 inches of manifold pressure and 2,250 rpm during the initial takeoff. Shortly after takeoff, he noticed the airplane was not climbing and the manifold pressure dropped to 28 inches or less. The pilot landed the airplane in a soybean field and after a ground roll of about 100 feet, the airplane contacted an embankment. The airplane twisted to the right and became airborne for a distance of approximately 100 feet prior to contacting the terrain and sliding to a stop. Post accident inspection of the airplane revealed the turbocharger blower had failed.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.