# Accident 19980822029999A: Airtrc AT401, Holly Bluff, MS, August 22, 1998

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: August 22, 1998, 11:15 local time
- Place: Holly Bluff, MS
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Fcd/Prec Ldg From Cruise
- Operating rules: Agricultural (Part 137)
- Operator: OPUG
- Location: 32.7696° N, 90.7105° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.7696&lon=-90.7105&mi=10
- Aircraft: N10103, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N10103-2016-09-07) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Air Tractor AT-401 (registry code 0390204, https://openairdocs.org/model/air-tractor-at-401) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Pratt & Whitney R1340 series (registry code 52016, https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-r1340-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: AIRTRC AT401
- Reported engine: PWA R1340AN1
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 5,050 total, 175 in this make and model, 300 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ATL98LA117](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL98LA117) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19980822029999A

## Narrative

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

THE PILOT REPORTED HE HAD BEEN FLYING ABOUT FORTY FIVE MINUTES ON THIS LOAD OF FUEL, AND ESTIMATED THAT HE HAD IN EXCESS OF ONE HOUR OF FUEL REMAINING. WHILE ON THE FIRST SWATH RUN CLIMB OUT FROM A FIELD, THE ENGINE LOST POWER.  THE PILOT ALSO REPORTED THAT AS THE ENGINE LOST POWER, BLACK SMOKE WAS SEEN COMING FROM THE EXHAUST.  ACCORDING TO THE PILOT, THE ONLY AVAILABLE EMERGENCY LANDING AREA WAS STRAIGHT AHEAD.  DURING THE POST-ACCIDENT EXAMINATION OF THE ENGINE ASSEMBLY, THE ENGINE WAS STARTED, IT RAN ROUGHLY, AND PRODUCED BLACK SMOKE.  FURTHER EXAMINATION DISCLOSED THAT FUEL PRESSURE SUPPLIED BY THE ENGINE DRIVEN FUEL PUMP WAS NOT BEING MAINTAINED IN THE PRESSURE CARBURETOR.  ACCORDING TO A LOCAL MECHANIC ASSISTING IN THE EXAMINATION, THE LOSS OF FUEL PRESSURE IN THE CARBURETOR IS NORMALLY ASSOCIATED WITH A DEFECTIVE NEEDLE ASSEMBLY IN THE CARBURETOR.  ACCORDING TO THE OPERATOR, THE MAINTENANCE RECORDDS SHOWED THAT THE ENGINE ASSEMBLY HAD ACCUMULATED 1150 HOURS OF SERVICE SINCE THE LAST OVERHAUL.  THE RECOMMENDED TIME BETWEEN ENGINE OVERHAULS IS 1200 HOURS.  THE ENGINE MAINTENANCE RECORDS ALSO FAILED TO SHOW IF THE CARBURETOR HAD BEEN OVERHAULED SINCE THE LAST ENGINE OVERHAUL.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB ATL98LA117](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL98LA117), Aug 22, 1998: Air Tractor 401 (N10103), Holly Bluff, MS, substantial damage. Probable cause: The malfunction of the carburetor which resulted in improper fuel flow to the engine.

## Other reports on N10103 (1)

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

- [Accident 19890825032139A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19890825032139A), Aug 25, 1989: Airtrc AT400 (N10103), Wabbaseka, AR, Substantial damage. Aircraft settled after liftoff. Collapsed gear hitting a levee. Pilot blames full load and high air temperature.

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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