Air Tractor INC AT-301 accident near Leland, Illinois, August 17, 2009
On August 17, 2009 at about 11:00 pm local time, a Air Tractor INC AT-301, registered N73102, was substantially damaged in an accident during maneuvering (low-alt flying) near Leland, Illinois (Hendrickson Flying Service airport). It was an aerial application (crop spraying) flight under agricultural flying rules (Part 137). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
A total loss of engine power in flight due to a loss of engine oil as a result of the separation of the propeller hub components for undetermined reasons.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 17, 2009 · about 11:00 pm local time
- Place
- Leland, Illinois · Hendrickson Flying Service · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Air Tractor INC AT-301 · all AT-301s on the register
- Registration
- N73102 · registry record · serial 301-0656
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial application (crop spraying) flight · agricultural flying rules (Part 137)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that he was spraying a field when “oil started hitting [his] windshield” and the engine lost oil pressure. Shortly thereafter, the engine “clattered and then quit.” He executed a forced landing into a corn field, where the airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing. The pilot noted that there was no indication of a problem prior to the loss of engine oil. A postaccident inspection revealed oil spray residue on the engine cowling and windshield. Examination determined that the spring puller bolt assembly and the piston gasket nut had separated from the propeller hub. The components were not recovered, precluding further examination. As a result, the exact nature of the failure could not be determined.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Sys/Comp malf/fail (non-power) during maneuvering (low-alt flying) defining event
- Powerplant sys/comp malf/fail during maneuvering (low-alt flying)
- Loss of engine power (total) during emergency descent
- Off-field or emergency landing during emergency descent
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft propeller/rotor › Propeller system › Propeller hub section › Failure
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft propeller/rotor › Propeller system › Propeller hub section › Not specified
Pilot
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot, flight engineer
- Ratings: single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 12,905 hours in all; 466 in this make and model; 105 in the last 90 days; 105 in the last 30 days; 12,231 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: sngl
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 8,042 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 8, 2009
- Maximum gross weight: 5,000 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: P&W R1340 SERIES (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Hendrickson Flying Service INC
The flight
- Departed from: IL93 Creston IL at 10:00 pm
- Destination: IL93 Creston IL
- Flight plan: not recorded
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 200° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 70°F (21°C)
- Altimeter: 29.96 inHg
- Observation at 10:52 pm from ARR, 18 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.