Air Tractor AT-301 N23960

Summary

On 29 August 2012 at about 20:30 local time, a Air Tractor AT-301 registered N23960, operated by Beta AG Inc, was involved in an accident near Ralls, Texas, 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

29 August 2012 at 20:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Ralls, Texas, United States

Coordinates

33.6078, -101.3236

Aircraft

Air Tractor AT-301

Registration

N23960

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Beta AG Inc

Operating rule

Part 137: Agricultural

Purpose of flight

Aerial Application

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Crosbyton → Crosbyton

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

CEN12LA589

1 person had minor injuries.

The total loss of engine power due to a fatigue failure of the rocker arm journal casting of the rocker arm cap.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot reported that, while conducting aerial application operations, the engine sputtered and then experienced a complete loss of power. During the forced landing, the airplane nosed over and then came to rest inverted. A postaccident examination of the engine revealed a fatigue failure of the rocker arm journal casting of the rocker arm cap, which resulted in the complete separation of the rocker arm and failure of the exhaust valve.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.