Pilot Debrief

AIR TRACTOR AT-502 near Dinuba, CA — 2008-12-16

Final reportWPR09CA064
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Date
2008-12-16
Location
Dinuba, CA, USA
Aircraft
AIR TRACTOR AT-502
Registration
N1035F
Category
Airplane
Highest injury
None
Fatalities
0

Probable cause

The failure of maintenance personnel to properly install the engine's Py line correctly, which resulted in the total loss of engine power and subsequent force landing. Contributing to the accident was the lack of suitable terrain.

NTSB narrative

The pilot reported that about halfway through the first spray pass he experienced a complete loss of engine power. The pilot stated that he pulled up out of the field, dumped the load, and chose to land straight ahead in an adjoining field. The pilot reported that after touching down and holding the stick back the tail started lifting. Before it stopped, the airplane nosed over and came to rest inverted. A Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) airworthiness aviation safety inspector conducted a post accident examination of the airplane. The airplane's most recent annual inspection had been completed the day prior to the accident. The FAA inspector found the engine's Py line had not been secured properly, which would have prevented proper fuel scheduling to the engine's fuel control unit. The inspector also reported that the outboard leading edge of the left wing tip had sustained substantial damage, which would have adversely affected the flight characteristics of the airplane.

NTSB coding

View NTSB final report

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