Accident Narrative
The pilot stated that after departing from Southeastern Crop Service's private field, while at an altitude of approximately 100 feet, a loud bang was heard. Pieces were seen exiting the tailpipe. The pilot then initiated a forced landing to an orange grove. During the landing, the airplane collided with trees. The accident resulted in substantial damage to the aircraft.
Examination Findings
An FAA inspector and a representative from Pratt and Whitney Canada, Montreal, Canada, conducted examinations of the accident airplane. The Pratt and Whitney Canada representative reported that examination of the engine showed no evidence of preimpact damage to the reduction gear box. The representative further noted that the downstream damage and the damage to the compressor turbine shroud were consistent with a high energy impact from compressor turbine blade fragments.
The operator later provided portions of the engine to the NTSB. Prior to that, the operator had sent the engine parts to a laboratory contracted for independent analysis. The NTSB conducted an examination of the engine parts at its Metallurgical Laboratory in Washington, D.C. The examination demonstrated the presence of damage consistent with overstress separations in cast materials.