Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Hector, Minnesota 55342
Thursday, June 6, 1991 7:15 CST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE PILOT WAS INVOLVED IN AERIAL APPLICATION OF A PEST CONTROL SPRAY. HE REPORTED THAT DURING THE LAST SWATH RUN THE ENGINE 'STARTED HAMMERING' AND EVENTUALLY LOST POWER COMPLETELY. THE PILOT MADE A FORCED LANDING IN A MUDDY FIELD, AND THE AIRPLANE NOSED OVER DURING THE LANDING ROLL. AN FAA INSPECTOR ATTENDED A POST ACCIDENT ENGINE TEARDOWN. HE STATED THE NUMBER ONE CONNECTING ROD FRACTURED ABOVE THE ROD CAP ATTACH POINT, AND THERE WAS EVIDENCE OF GALLING ON THE REMAINING CONNECTING ROD JOURNALS. A SERVICE BULLETIN PUBLISHED BY THE MANUFACTURER STATES 'GALLING...IS PRODUCED DURING OVERSPEED OR EXCESSIVE MANIFOLD OPERATION.'

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

THE LOSS OF ENGINE POWER DUE TO THE TOTAL FAILURE OF A CONNECTING ROD. RELATED FACTORS ARE THE LOW MANEUVERING ALTITUDE AND THE UNSUITABLE (MUDDY) TERRAIN ENCOUNTERED DURING THE FORCED LANDING.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 6/6/1991
Event Day of the Week Thursday
Time of Event 715
Event Time Zone Central Standard Time
Event City HECTOR
Event State MINNESOTA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 55342
Event Date Year 1991
Event Date Month 6
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles 0
Degrees magnetic from airport 0
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Pilot
Time of the weather observation 0
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID
Elevation of weather observation facility 0
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) -18
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) -18
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 150
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 5
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) --
Density Altitude (feet) 0
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 1
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency FAA
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 2104
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time 0
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 43873
Date of most recent change to record Dec 18 2002 11:28AM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\GIUV
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N8800W
NTSB Number CHI91DER04
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 137: Agricultural
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name BELLANCA
Aircraft Model EAGLE DW-1
Aircraft Series Identifier EAGLE DW-1
Aircraft Serial Number DW-1-0004-80
Certified Max Gross Weight 5400
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 1
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection May 31 1991 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 2
Airframe Hours 2175
ELT Installed No
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name EDGAR T. NEWBERG
Aircraft Owner Street Address RR. 1, BOX 1
Aircraft Owner City HECTOR
Aircraft Owner State MN
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 55342
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name EDGAR T. NEWBERG
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address RR. 1, BOX 1
Operator City HECTOR
Operator State MN
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 55342
Operator Code KJSG
Owner has at least one certificate Yes - certificate holder
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation Agriculture
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not Unknown
Indicates Domestic or International Flight Unknown
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail Unknown
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Aerial Application
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 700
Departure Time Zone CST
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code
Destination City
Destination State
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Landing
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:35AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 0
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --