| Crash location | 27.495000°N, 80.368334°W |
| Nearest city | Fort Pierce, FL
27.446706°N, 80.325606°W 4.2 miles away |
| Tail number | N6067A |
|---|---|
| Accident date | 31 May 2001 |
| Aircraft type | Air Tractor AT-502B |
| Additional details: | None |
On May 31, 2001, about 0800 eastern daylight time, an Air Tractor AT-502B, N6067A, registered to, and operated by Southeastern Aircraft Inc, as a Title 14 CFR Part 137 agricultural flight, crashed immediately after takeoff from a private field in Fort Pierce, Florida. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed. The airplane incurred substantial damage, and the commercial-rated pilot received minor injuries. The flight was originating at the time of the accident.
The pilot stated that he had just taken off from the Southeastern Crop Service's private field, and he was about 100 feet in the air, when he heard a loud bang, and saw pieces coming out of the tailpipe. The pilot further stated that he then initiated a forced landing to an orange grove, and during the landing the airplane collided with trees and incurred substantial damage.
An FAA inspector and a representative from Pratt and Whitney Canada, Montreal, Canada, responded to the accident site and conducted on-scene and follow-up examinations of the accident airplane. According to the Pratt and Whitney Canada representative, examination of the engine showed no sign of preimpact damage to the reduction gear box. In addition, the Pratt and Whitney Canada representative further stated that both the downstream damage, as well as the damage to the compressor turbine shroud were consistent with there having been a high energy impact due to compressor turbine blade fragments. The Pratt and Whitney Canada representative adding that fractured PMA compressor turbine blades had been found in the engine.
The operator later provided portions of the engine to the NTSB after having first sent them to a laboratory he had contracted to conduct his own analysis. The NTSB conducted an examination of the engine parts the operator provided at the NTSB's Metallurgical Laboratory, Washington, D.C., and the examination showed the presence of damage consistent with overstress separations in cast materials.
The loss of engine power during takeoff/initial climb due to compressor turbine blade separation.