Hector, MN, USA
N8806B
EAGLE AIRCRAFT CO EAGLE DW 1
The pilot reported that new spray booms had been installed on the airplane and that he was returning to the airport after performing an aerial application test flight. During final approach for landing, the pilot noticed that the airplane was going to be short of the intended landing point, so he advanced the engine throttle to reestablish a proper glidepath. The engine did not respond as expected, so the pilot continued to advance the throttle; however, the engine still did not respond as expected. The pilot realized that the airplane was not going to reach the runway, so he applied maximum throttle, which resulted in the engine surging. He then increased the angle-of-attack in an attempt to gain maximum lift. However, the airplane's descent rate increased, and the spray booms subsequently contacted the bean field. The airplane then impacted the bean field, bounced, nosed over, and came to rest inverted. Postaccident examination of the engine did not reveal any mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have caused the intermittent partial power loss.
On July 28, 2015, at 2025 central daylight time, an Eagle Aircraft Company Eagle DW 1, N8806B, impacted terrain short of the runway at Hector Municipal Airport (1D6), Hector, Minnesota. The pilot, who was the sole occupant, was not injured. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the wings and rudder. The airplane was registered to and operated by Eagle LLC, as a 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 137 aerial application flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident, and the flight was not operated on a flight plan. The local flight departed 1D6 at 1955. The pilot performed a 30-minute post maintenance test flight after new spray booms were installed on the airplane, and executed a normal traffic pattern approach to landing. During final approach, the pilot noticed the airplane was going to be short of the intended landing point, so the pilot advanced the engine throttle to reestablish a proper glide path. The pilot stated the engine did not respond as he expected, so he continued to advance the throttle. The continued advancement of the engine throttle did not immediately change the engine power output. Realizing the airplane may land short of the runway, the pilot applied maximum throttle. The engine surged and the pilot could feel the increase in power. The pilot then noticed the airplane was going to be short of the runway so he increased the angle of attack in an attempt to gain maximum lift. The airplane developed an unanticipated increased sink rate and the spray booms contacted the bean field. The airplane impacted the bean field, bounced, nosed over, and came to rest inverted. Postaccident examination of the airplane revealed no evidence of mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation.
The intermittent partial loss of engine power, which resulted in a lower-than-expected approach glidepath and impact with terrain short of the runway. The reason for the intermittent partial loss of engine power could not be determined because postaccident examination of the airframe and engine did not reveal any anomalies that would have precluded normal operation.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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