ASN Wikibase Occurrence # 358534
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| Date: | Friday 4 August 1995 |
| Time: | 09:45 LT |
| Type: |  Air Tractor AT-401 |
| Owner/operator: | Aurora Aircraft, Inc. |
| Registration: | N4543F |
| MSN: | 401-0787 |
| Total airframe hrs: | 1439 hours |
| Engine model: | P&W R-1340-AN-1 |
| Fatalities: | Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 1 |
| Aircraft damage: | Substantial |
| Category: | Accident |
| Location: | Aurora, NE -
 United States of America
|
| Phase: | Manoeuvring (airshow, firefighting, ag.ops.) |
| Nature: | Agricultural |
| Departure airport: | , NE (KAUH) |
| Investigating agency: | NTSB |
| Confidence Rating: |  Accident investigation report completed and information captured |
AT THE BEGINNING OF THE PILOT'S SWATH RUN HE NOTICED WHITE SMOKE COMING FROM THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE ENGINE. HE SAID HE DISCONTINUED THE RUN AND TURNED BACK TOWARD HIS HOME AIRPORT. JUST AS THE AIRPLANE LEVELED OUT FROM ITS TURN THE PILOT SAID THE ENGINE LOST MOST OF ITS POWER. THE PILOT SAID HE HEADED THE AIRPLANE FOR A PASTURE BUT WAS UNABLE TO GLIDE TO IT. THE AIRPLANE NOSED OVER SHORTLY AFTER ITS WHEELS CONTACTED THE CORN, COMING TO REST ON THE GROUND. EXAMINATION OF THE ENGINE REVEALED THE NUMBER 4 CYLINDER'S EXHAUST TOWER WAS CRACKED WHERE THE ROCKER ARM SHAFT WENT THROUGH THE CYLINDER HEAD. THE OWNER/MECHANIC OF THE AIRPLANE SAID THE CONDITION RESULTING FROM THE DAMAGED EXHAUST TOWER PREVENTS THE CYLINDER'S EXHAUST VALVE FROM OPENING. THE RESULT OF THE EXHAUST VALVE NOT OPENING CREATES A BLOW BACK CONDITION THAT AFFECTS THE OTHER CYLINDERS. THE END RESULT, ACCORDING TO THE OWNER, IS THAT THE ENGINE WILL LOSE MOST OF ITS POWER. THIS WAS CONFIRMED BY THE FAA PRINCIPAL MAINTENANCE INSPECTOR WHO CONDUCTED THE ENGINE EXAMINATION.
Probable Cause: the cracked engine assembly that caused the power loss during a critical phase of flight. Factors associated with this accident were the restricted airplane performance due to the power loss, the airplane's altitude was too low, and remedial action, by, the pilot, that would lead to an uneventful forced landing was not possible.
Accident investigation:
 |
|
Sources:
NTSB CHI95LA258
Location
Revision history:
| Date/time | Contributor | Updates |
|---|---|---|
| 14-Mar-2024 15:27 | ASN Update Bot | Added |
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