Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Girard, Georgia 30426
Wednesday, July 30, 2003 16:15 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

According to the pilot, during climb-out the engine lost power. The pilot continued on the takeoff heading and the airplane collided with trees during an emergency descent. Examination of the engine revealed the engine blower seals failed. Engine oil was found in the combustion chamber and the spark plug electrodes were saturated with oil.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

A loss of engine power due to the failure of the internal supercharger blower seals.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 7/30/2003
Event Day of the Week Wednesday
Time of Event 1615
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City Girard
Event State GEORGIA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 30426
Event Date Year 2003
Event Date Month 7
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? Yes
Event Location Latitude 332211N
Event Location Longitude 0815752W
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 0
Weather Briefing Completeness Partial - limited by pilot
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1626 Eastern Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID KAGS
Elevation of weather observation facility 144
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation EDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 3300
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Few
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 7
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 25
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 22
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 0
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 0
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30.01
Density Altitude (feet) 1282
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 1
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 15624
NTSB Notification Source FAA Communication Center
NTSB Notification Date Jul 31 2003 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1325
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information DMS
Date of most recent change to record Jun 30 2004 12:15PM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\MONR
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office Atlanta FSDO

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N61227
NTSB Number ATL03LA122
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 137: Agricultural
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? No
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Air Tractor
Aircraft Model AT401B
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 401B-0978
Certified Max Gross Weight 6000
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 Mar 18 2003 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 76
Airframe Hours 2090
ELT Installed No
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name D & D Spraying Inc.
Aircraft Owner Street Address 729 Percy Dixon Rd.
Aircraft Owner City Girard
Aircraft Owner State GA
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 30426
Operator is an individual? No
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 --
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? --
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation --
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Aerial Application
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code --
Departure City Girard
Departure State GA
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1600
Departure Time Zone EDT
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code --
Destination City Girard
Destination State GA
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight Takeoff - initial climb
Report sent to ICAO? No
Evacuation occurred No
Date of most recent change to record Mar 29 2004 2:02PM
User who most recently changed record POWP
Since inspection or accident Time of Accident
Event Location Runway Number and Location --
Runway Length 1800
Runway Width 200
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --