THE ACFT SUSTAINED A COMPLETE & SUDDEN POWER LOSS WHILE ENGAGED IN AG OPERATIONS AT LOW ALT. THE PROP, FWD PORTION OF THE CRANKSHAFT, CYL HEAD & OTHER ENG PARTS SEPARATED FROM THE ACFT. THE ACFT STRUCK A ROW OF 40 FT TREES & CRASHED TO THE GRND. AN EXAM OF THE FAILED CRANKSHAFT REVEALED THAT IT HAD SEPARATED JUST FWD OF THE NO. 2 MAIN BEARING. LAB ANALYSIS REVEALED EVIDENCE TO SUGGEST THE CRANKSHAFT FAILED DUE TO FATIGUE. THE OWNER OF THE ACFT STATED THE ENG HAD BEEN OVERHAULED IN THE PAST BUT HE DID NOT KNOW WHEN OR BY WHOM. ENG LOGBOOK ENTRIES DID NOT REFLECT ANY ENG OVERHAUL.
The National Transportation Safety Board determines the probable cause(s) of this accident as follows:
Index for May1988 | Index of months