Bellanca EAGLE DW-1 accident near Hector, Minnesota, June 6, 1991
On June 6, 1991 at about 1:15 pm local time, a Bellanca EAGLE DW-1, registered N8800W, was substantially damaged in an accident near Hector, Minnesota. 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
THE LOSS OF ENGINE POWER DUE TO THE TOTAL FAILURE OF A CONNECTING ROD. RELATED FACTORS ARE THE LOW MANEUVERING ALTITUDE AND THE UNSUITABLE (MUDDY) TERRAIN ENCOUNTERED DURING THE FORCED LANDING.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 6, 1991 · about 1:15 pm local time
- Place
- Hector, Minnesota · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bellanca EAGLE DW-1
- Registration
- N8800W · registry record · serial DW-1-0004-80
- 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 WAS INVOLVED IN AERIAL APPLICATION OF A PEST CONTROL SPRAY. HE REPORTED THAT DURING THE LAST SWATH RUN THE ENGINE 'STARTED HAMMERING' AND EVENTUALLY LOST POWER COMPLETELY. THE PILOT MADE A FORCED LANDING IN A MUDDY FIELD, AND THE AIRPLANE NOSED OVER DURING THE LANDING ROLL. AN FAA INSPECTOR ATTENDED A POST ACCIDENT ENGINE TEARDOWN. HE STATED THE NUMBER ONE CONNECTING ROD FRACTURED ABOVE THE ROD CAP ATTACH POINT, AND THERE WAS EVIDENCE OF GALLING ON THE REMAINING CONNECTING ROD JOURNALS. A SERVICE BULLETIN PUBLISHED BY THE MANUFACTURER STATES 'GALLING...IS PRODUCED DURING OVERSPEED OR EXCESSIVE MANIFOLD OPERATION.'
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
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; single-engine sea
- Flight time: 1,597 hours in all; 208 in this make and model; 60 in the last 90 days; 35 in the last 30 days; 1,555 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,175 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 31, 1991; 2 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 5,400 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming IO-540-M1B5D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 150° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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.