ASN Wikibase Occurrence # 295639
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| Date: | Thursday 26 June 2003 |
| Time: | 08:52 LT |
| Type: |  Air Tractor 402A |
| Owner/operator: | U.S. Forest Service |
| Registration: | N4506L |
| MSN: | 402A-0749 |
| Total airframe hrs: | 4831 hours |
| Engine model: | Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-20 |
| Fatalities: | Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 1 |
| Aircraft damage: | Substantial |
| Category: | Accident |
| Location: | Pearisburg, VA -
 United States of America
|
| Phase: | Manoeuvring (airshow, firefighting, ag.ops.) |
| Nature: | Fire fighting |
| Departure airport: | Dublin-New River Valley Airport, VA (PSK/KPSK) |
| Dublin-New River Valley Airport, VA (PSK/KPSK) | |
| Investigating agency: | NTSB |
| Confidence Rating: |  Accident investigation report completed and information captured |
The Air Tractor was spreading chemical when the pilot observed orange flames and black smoke emitting from the engine exhausts. The engine lost power, he feathered the propeller, and set up for a forced landing in a nearby open field. The airplane touched down, rolled a short distance, and struck embedded rock. The landing gear collapsed, the fuselage was wrinkled, and the propeller separated from the engine. Examination of the PWC PT6A-20 engine revealed several compressor turbine blades had fractured and been released into the engine gas path. The blades also impacted adjacent and downstream components. The compressor turbine blades used in the engine were not approved by PWC; however, they were PMA manufactured with FAA approval. Since engine overhaul, the engine had accumulated 10,978.8 hours and 15,059 cycles. According to the FAA, the PWC recommended overhaul time of 3,600 hours. The airplane was being operated on a USDA Forest Service contact that required the engine to have been overhauled within the manufacturer's specifications. The engine's time since overhaul was not discovered by the Forest Service when they accepted the airplane for use on their contract.
Probable Cause: A compressor turbine blade fracture which resulted in a power loss, and forced landing. Factor were the rocks in the landing area, and the operator's decision to operate the engine beyond the engine manufacturer's recommendations for overhaul.
Accident investigation:
 |
|
Sources:
NTSB NYC03TA138
Location
Revision history:
| Date/time | Contributor | Updates |
|---|---|---|
| 13-Oct-2022 10:54 | ASN Update Bot | Added |
| 12-Nov-2022 01:49 | Ron Averes | Updated [Operator, Location, Phase, Nature, Narrative] |
| 24-Sep-2023 05:38 | Ron Averes | Updated [[Operator, Location, Phase, Nature, Narrative]] |
| 14-Nov-2023 04:12 | Ron Averes | Updated [Operator] |
Corrections or additions? ... Edit this accident description
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