Pilot Debrief

AIR TRACTOR INC AT-401 near Rayville, LA — 2022-03-26

Final reportCEN22LA157
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Date
2022-03-26
Location
Rayville, LA, USA
Aircraft
AIR TRACTOR INC AT-401
Registration
N9192E
Category
Airplane
Highest injury
Serious
Fatalities
0
Phase of flight
Approach

Probable cause

A loss of engine power for a reason that could not be determined based on available information.

NTSB narrative

The pilot reported that during an agricultural spray pass the engine began to run abnormally. As he climbed over powerlines and trees, he looked for a place to land. The engine subsequently stopped producing any power. During the event, the engine started and stopped producing power two or three times. After touching down in a field, the airplane went over an embankment, the right wing struck an irrigation unit, and the airplane ultimately nosed over, resulting in substantial damage to both wings. The recovery crew reported that there was only a trace of fuel recovered from the airplane. However, the pilot’s son refuted this information, stating that fuel was draining from the airplane’s right fuel tank vent immediately after the accident and that the recovery crew drained more than 60 gallons of fuel from the airplane when it was recovered. Postaccident examination of the airplane, including the engine and airframe fuel system, revealed no anomalies. Based on the available information, the reason for the loss of engine power could not be determined.

Analysis

Primary failure mode
Fuel management
First missed decision gate
Pilot could have checked fuel levels before final spray passes.

NTSB coding

Evidence available

  • Photos
  • 5 docket documents
View NTSB final reportView NTSB docket

Docket documents5

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