Air Tractor AT-301 N23820

Summary

On 26 July 2003 at about 10:50 local time, a Air Tractor AT-301 registered N23820 was involved in an accident near Rhinebeck, New York, United States. One person was on board and one had minor injuries. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

26 July 2003 at 10:50

Classification

Accident

Location

Rhinebeck, New York, United States

Coordinates

41.9269, -73.9128

Aircraft

Air Tractor AT-301

Registration

N23820

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 137: Agricultural

Purpose of flight

Aerial Application

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Livingston → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

NYC03LA168

1 person had minor injuries.

A loss of engine power due to a failure of the number eight cylinder.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The airplane was in cruise flight when the engine began to vibrate and lose power. The pilot not able to maintain altitude, and performed a forced landing to a field. The airplane was equipped with a Pratt and Whitney R1340 radial engine. Examination of the engine revealed that approximately 50 percent of the number eight cylinder head was separated from it's respective cylinder barrel. Review of maintenance records revealed that the engine had been operated for about 930 hours since it was overhauled and about 20 hours since it's most recent annual inspection. At the time of the annual inspection, a mechanic reported he examined the cylinders and did not detect any cracks.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.