Air Tractor AT-301 N73102

Summary

On 17 August 2009 at about 23:00 local time, a Air Tractor AT-301 registered N73102, operated by Hendrickson Flying Service Inc, was involved in an accident near Leland, Illinois, 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

17 August 2009 at 23:00

Classification

Accident

Location

Leland, Illinois, United States

Nearest airport

Hendrickson Flying Service (IL93)

Coordinates

41.6658, -88.7714

Aircraft

Air Tractor AT-301

Registration

N73102

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Hendrickson Flying Service Inc

Operating rule

Part 137: Agricultural

Purpose of flight

Aerial Application

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Creston → Creston

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

CEN09CA535

Nobody was injured.

A total loss of engine power in flight due to a loss of engine oil as a result of the separation of the propeller hub components for undetermined reasons.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot reported that he was spraying a field when “oil started hitting [his] windshield” and the engine lost oil pressure. Shortly thereafter, the engine “clattered and then quit.” He executed a forced landing into a corn field, where the airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing. The pilot noted that there was no indication of a problem prior to the loss of engine oil. A postaccident inspection revealed oil spray residue on the engine cowling and windshield. Examination determined that the spring puller bolt assembly and the piston gasket nut had separated from the propeller hub. The components were not recovered, precluding further examination. As a result, the exact nature of the failure could not be determined.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.