# Accident 19980227007459A: Airtrc AT301, Woodland, CA, February 27, 1998

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: February 27, 1998, 14:32 local time
- Place: Woodland, CA
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Low Level Operations
- Operating rules: Agricultural (Part 137)
- Operator: NIIG
- Location: 38.6715° N, 121.7505° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Woodland, CA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.6715&lon=-121.7505&mi=10
- Aircraft: N8828S, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8828S-2019-10-22) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Air Tractor AT-301 (registry code 0390103, https://openairdocs.org/model/air-tractor-at-301) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Pratt & Whitney R-1340-AN-1 (registry code 51612, https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-r-1340-an-1) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: AIRTRC AT301
- Reported engine: PWA R1340AN1
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 3,235 total, 507 in this make and model
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19980227007459A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

ON FEBRUARY 26, 1998, AT 1432 HOURS PACIFIC STANDARD TIME, AN AIR TRACTOR 301-300, N8828S, LOST ENGINE POWER AND NOSED OVER DURING A SUBSEQUENT FORCED LANDING IN A SOFT FIELD NEAR WOODLAND, CALIFORNIA. THE AIRCRAFT SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE AND THE PILOT, THE SOLE OCCUPANT, WAS NOT INJURED. VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT. THE FLIGHT WAS OPERATING UNDER 14 CFR PART 137 AND NO FLIGHT PLAN WAS FILED. ACCORDING TO A FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION INSPECTOR FROM THE SACRAMENTO FLIGHT STANDARDS DISTRICT OFFICE, THE PILOT REPORTED THAT HE WAS SPRAYING AMMONIA NITRATE ON A FIELD. HE WAS MAKING AN APPROACH TO THE OPEN FIELD WHEN THE ENGINE QUIT AND STARTED TO WINDMILL. THE PILOT STATED THAT HE MADE AN EMERGENCY LANDING AND TOUCHED DOWN IN SOFT DIRT. THE AIRCRAFT NOSED OVER AND CAME TO REST INVERTED. IN A TELEPHONE CONVERSATION WITH THE AIRCRAFT OWNER/OPERATOR, HE STATED THAT HE DRAINED APPROXIMATELY 1 1/2 QUARTS OF FUEL FROM EACH TANK AT THE ACCIDENT SITE. HE ALSO EXPLAINED THAT THE AIRCRAFT HAS TWO FUEL TANKS AND EACH TANK HOLDS 35 GALLONS OF USEABLE FUEL. WITH THE FERTILIZER ONBOARD, THE AIRCRAFT BURNS ABOUT 40 GALLONS PER HOUR. THE OWNER FURTHER STATED THAT IS IS THEIR GENERAL OPERATING PRACTICE TO REFUEL EASH HOUR, IN ONE TANK ONLY, OUT OF CONVENIENCE. THE TANKS CROSS FEED INTO EACH OTHER. HE ALSO EXPLAINED THAT A LOW RPM, THE TACHOMETER TIME WILL MATCH THE TIME LAPSE ON A WRISTWATCH, BUT AT A HIGHER RPM, THE TACHOMETER LAPSES AT A QUICKER RATE. FOR EXAMPLE, AT A HIGH RPM, THE TACHOMETER LAPSES AT A QUICKER RATE, FOR EXAMPLE, AT A HIGH RPM, 1 HOUR ON A WRISTWATCH WILL EQUAL APPROXIMATELY 1 HOUR 10 MINUTES ON THE TACHOMETER. AFTER THE ACCIDENT, THE PILOT REPORTED TO THE OWNER THAT HE THOUGHT HE STILL HAD 15 MINUTES LEFT BEFORE REFUELING. THE OWNER OPINED THAT PILOT HAD USED HIS WRISTWATCH TO CALCULATE THE TIME, INSTEAD OF THE TACHOMETER, WHICH LED TO FUEL STRAVATION. DURING THE ENGINE TEARDOWN INSPECTION, NO MECHANICAL DEFECTS WERE NOTED WITH THE ENGINE. (-23) ENROUTE TO FIELD PRIOR TO ARRIVING AT FIELD ENGINE QUIT. TO AVOID OBSTACLES TO THE SOUTH HE MADE A RIGHT BANK TO THE WEST AND MADE AN EMERGENCY LANDING ON A WET DIRT ROAD. THE LAST PART OF THE ROLLOUT THE WHEELS SANK IN MUD AND AIRCRAFT FLIPPED ON ITS BACK.

## NTSB investigation

None matched to this report by aircraft and date. Search the NTSB's own records: https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-main-public/basic-search

## Other reports on N8828S (2)

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.

- [Incident 19840616031859I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19840616031859I), Jun 16, 1984: Airtrc AT301 (N8828S), Brentwood, CA, Minor damage. Caught outer wing spray boom in tall weeds while landing. Aircraft ended in ditch.
- [Incident 19820220005239I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19820220005239I), Feb 20, 1982: Airtrc AT301 (N8828S), Tracy, CA. Engine failed on ag operation. Landed on a road. Magneto bearing failure.

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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