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SALT LAKE CITY — The pilot of a mosquito abatement airplane had to make an emergency landing Wednesday after a piston burst in the engine, covering the windshield with oil.
"When the piston blew on the airplane, it sprayed oil on the windshield," Salt Lake Fire Capt. Mark Bednarik said. "The pilot had to open up the window and lean outside to get visibility."
The man had radioed in a flight emergency around 8 a.m., reporting mechanical problems. Bednarik said he ultimately conducted an emergency landing approximately three miles northwest of the Salt Lake City International Airport on a dirt road near the Duck Club.
"He was able to get his head out the window, circle around, locate a dirt road and make a landing with no visibility out of his windshield," Bednarik said. "It was quite a good job on his behalf to be able to land that safely without injury to him or the plane."
Salt Lake City Fire crews as well as airport security crews went out to find the pilot and located him, uninjured, at 8:30 a.m.
The pilot, who apparently works for Ogden-based Thomas Helicopters that was contracted to spray for the Salt Lake County Mosquito Abatement District, was "very experienced," according to Bednarik. He was still early in his day's work when the piston blew.
After an evaluation, both the pilot and his airplane were found to be intact. Bednarik said there was no damage to fuel or chemical tanks in the airplane.
"There was no fire involved, no loss of product in the area," Bednarik said, though he noted there was some smoke in the cockpit that also obstructed the pilot's visibility.
The Federal Aviation Administration completed an investigation into the incident and released the plane back to the plane's owner, who will be responsible for removing the plane.
Email:emorgan@ksl.com
