Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

American Falls, Idaho 83211
Friday, July 23, 1999 9:00 MDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot was dispensing fertilizer from a cropduster. Just before beginning a course reversal at the end of his second swath run, the Curtiss-Wright R-1820 (1200 horsepower) radial engine 'experienced a sudden and near complete loss of power' for undetermined reasons. The pilot reported that, just before starting the course reversal, he perceived a loss of engine power through a degradation of engine noise and airspeed, but the engine did not completely quit. He dumped the 2,400 pound load, maneuvered to avoid a residence and executed a forced landing to rough terrain. During the landing roll, the right landing gear collapsed. The pilot reported that this was the second flight of the morning at the same load weight. An examination of the engine revealed no mechanical malfunction.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

A loss of engine power for undetermined reasons, and overload of the (right) main landing gear. A contributing factor was the rough terrain.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 7/23/1999
Event Day of the Week Friday
Time of Event 900
Event Time Zone Mountain Daylight Time
Event City AMERICAN FALLS
Event State IDAHO
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 83211
Event Date Year 1999
Event Date Month 7
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 --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1456 Mountain Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 37
Weather Observation Facility ID PIH
Elevation of weather observation facility 4449
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 14
Time Zone of the weather observation MDT
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) 19
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 6
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 0
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 0
Wind Velocity Indicator Calm
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30
Density Altitude (feet) 5700
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Minor
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor 1
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 1011
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Jul 23 1999 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1025
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Jan 10 2001 10:18AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N3649X
NTSB Number SEA99LA125
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 Rockwell
Aircraft Model S-2R
Aircraft Series Identifier S-2R
Aircraft Serial Number 2151R
Certified Max Gross Weight 7000
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 Jun 16 1999 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 57
Airframe Hours 3488
ELT Installed No
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name SAVAGE, DAVID, E.
Aircraft Owner Street Address PO BOX 221
Aircraft Owner City AMERICAN FALLS
Aircraft Owner State ID
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 83211
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address
Operator City
Operator State
Operator Country
Operator Zip code
Operator Code FZUG
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 No
Departure Airport Code U01
Departure City AMERICAN FALLS
Departure State ID
Departure Country
Departure Time 855
Departure Time Zone MDT
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 --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 10 2001 12:27PM
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 --