N23416Air Tractor AT-400A · 1981

On April 24, 2013, about 1610 central daylight time, an Air Tractor Inc., AT-301 airplane, N23416, was substantially damaged during a forced landing near Bowling Green, Missouri. The commercial pilot was not injured. The airplane was registered to, and operated by Air Cover Crop Solutions LLC., under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 without a flight plan. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. The local flight was originating from the Bowling Green Municipal Airport (H19) at the time of the accident.

According to the pilot, the engine was washed down, inspected, and then started and run for 15 minutes at idle power. The engine power was then advanced to 31 inches of manifold pressure; all engine checks were normal, and the engine ran smoothly. The pilot intended to change the engine oil after the flight. Shortly after takeoff, the engine lost power. The pilot performed a forced landing to a field 1/4 mile off of the departure end of the runway. During the forced landing, the airplane nosed over in the mud, and the wings and empennage were substantially damaged.

During the examination of the engine, metal fragments were noted in the exhaust tubing. Further examination revealed that the rear bearing on the supercharger assembly had failed and was fragmented. Additional damage was noted to the middle and front bearings, the intermediate gear, the shaft seal, the cover plate, and the impeller. An examination of the airframe, systems, and remaining engine sections revealed no anomalies.