MKC87LA152

Factual narrative

DURING AN AERIAL APPLICATION OPERATION, PILOT EXPERIENCED PARTIAL POWER LOSS AND VIBRATION, FOLLOWED BY A LOUD EXPLOSIVE SOUND AND TOTAL LOSS OF POWER. AN EMERGENCY LDG WAS MADE FOLLOWED BY A NOSE OVER. POSTACCIDENT INSPECTION REVEALED THE ENTIRE PROPELLER ASSEMBLY, ONE CYLINDER, AND PART OF THE CRANKSHAFT WERE MISSING. THIS COMPLETE ASSEMBLY WAS FOUND ABOUT THREE MONTHS LATER, APPROXIMATELY ONE QUARTER MILE FROM THE ACCIDENT SCENE. MET LAB REPORT ON PORTION OF CRANKSHAFT THAT REMAINED WITH ACFT INDICATED NO UNUSUAL WEAR OR DAMAGE THAT MIGHT CAUSE ITS FAILURE. THE PIC STATED THAT AFTER THE EXPLOSION, WHICH BLEW THE FRONT HOPPER LOADING LID OFF, THE SPRAY MATERIAL COVERED THE WINDSHIELD MAKING VISIBILITY DIFFICULT. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database (Pre-2008 Archive) Retrieved: 2026-02-12