# Accident 19990726023859A: Airtrc AT301, Victoria, TX, July 26, 1999 - Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported - Date: July 26, 1999, 15:30 local time - Place: Victoria, TX - Damage: Substantial damage - Phase of flight: Fcd/Prec Ldg From Cruise - Operating rules: Agricultural (Part 137) - Operator: A3NG - Location: 29.4491° N, 96.5102° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.4491&lon=-96.5102&mi=10 - Aircraft: N4393S, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4393S-2021-05-08) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry model: Air Tractor AT-301 (registry code 0390103, https://openairdocs.org/model/air-tractor-at-301) (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: AIRTRC AT301 - Reported engine: PWA R1340AN1 - People aboard: 1 - Fatal injuries: 0 - Pilot flight hours: 4,990 total - NTSB investigation: [NTSB FTW99LA204](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW99LA204) (OpenAirDocs) - FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/) - Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19990726023859A ## Narrative As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^. (.19) ON JULY 26, 1999, AT 1530 CENTRAL DAYLIGHT TIME, AN AIR TRACTOR AT-301 AGRICULTURAL AIRPLANE, N4393S, REGISTERED TO A PRIVATE INDIVIDUAL AND OPERATED BY ANF AIR SERVICES OF GARWOOD, TEXAS, WAS SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED DURING A FORCED LANDING, FOLLOWING A LOSS OF ENGINE POWER NEAR VICTORIA, TEXAS. THE COMMERCIAL PILOT, SOLE OCCUPANT OF THE AIRCRAFT WAS NOT INJURED. VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED, AND A FLIGHT PLAN WAS NOT FILED FOR THE 14 CODE OF FEDERAL REGULATIONS (CFR) PART 137 AERIAL APPLICATION FLIGHT. THE LOCAL FLIGHT ORIGINATED FROM THE VICTORIA REGIONAL AIRPORT, VICTORIA, TEXAS. ACCORDING TO PRELIMINARY INFORMATION, THE AIRCRAFT WAS ON ITS FIRST SWATH RUN OF A BOLL WEEVIL ERADICATION FLIGHT WHEN THE ENGINE COWLING SEPARATED FROM THE AIRCRAFT. AS THE COWLING SEPARATED IT STRUCK THE ENGINE AND PROPELLER. THE ENGINE LOST POWER AND THE PILOT EXECUTED A FORCED LANDING TO A COTTON FIELD. DURING THE LANDING ROLL THE AIRCRAFT "SPUN" AROUND. EXAMINATION OF THE AIRCRAFT BY AN FAA INSPECTOR REVEALED THAT THE RIGHT MAIN LANDING GEAR WAS SHEARED OFF, AND THE LEFT WING WAS PULLED AWAY FROM THE FUSELAGE. FURTHER EXAMINATION OF THE ENGINE REVEALED TWO PUSH ROD TUBES BENT. ACCORDING TO THE FAA INSPECTOR, THE FRACTURED ENGINE COWLING SUPPORT BRACKET HAD A "DULL SURFACE LIKE IT HAD BEEN BROKEN FOR A WHILE." (.4)THE AGRICULTURAL AIRPLANE WAS ON ITS FIRST SWATH RUN OF A BOLL WEEVIL ERADICATION FLIGHT WHEN THE ENGINE COWLING SEPARATED AND STRUCK THE PROPELLER AND ENGINE. THE ENGINE LOST POWER, AND THE PILOT EXECUTED A FORCED LANDING TO A COTTON FIELD. DURING THE LANDING ROLL, THE AIRCRAFT 'SPUN' AROUND. THE FAA INSPECTOR REPORTED THAT THE FRACTURED ENGINE COWLING SUPPORT BRACKET HAD A 'DULL SURFACE LIKE IT HAD BEEN BROKEN FOR A WHILE.' EXAMINATION OF THE AIRCRAFT'S ENGINE REVEALED THAT FOUR PUSH ROD TUBES WERE BENT. (-23) PILOT (SOLE OCCUPANT) DEPARTED VICTORIA REGIONAL AIRPORT, APPROXIMATELY 20 MINUTES INTO FLIGHT, FIRST PASS OVER FIELD, HE OBSERVED BLUE SMOKE FROM ENGINE IN-FLIGHT. LOST ENGINE COWLING AND POWER IN FLIGHT, LANDED/GROUND LOOPED INTO A COTTON FIELD. ACCIDENT SCENE WAS APPROXIMATELY 10 TO 15 NAUTICAL MILES SW OF VICTORIA REGIONAL AIRPORT. SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE TO AIRCRAFT WITH NO PILOT INJURIES. THERE WAS NO FURTHER PROPERTY DAMAGE OBSERVED. IT APPEARED THAT THE ENGINE COWLING CAME LOOSE AND STRUCK THE PROPELLER AN D SEVERAL PUSH RODS RESULTING IN A LOSS OF POWER. UPON LANDING, THE RIGHT WING WAS DRAGGED, THE RIGHT MAIN GEAR COLLAPSED AND THE LEFT WING HAD SEPARATED FROM THE FUSELAGE. THE ENGINE COWLING WAS FOUND SEVERAL HUNDRED FEET FROM THE AIRCRAFT. THIS OFFICE CONSIDER THIS REPORT CLOSED. PHOTOGRAPHS ARE ENCLOSED. ## 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 FTW99LA204](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW99LA204), Jul 26, 1999: Air Tractor AT-301 (N4393S), Victoria, TX, substantial damage. Probable cause: The separation of the engine cowling due to a fractured support bracket, which resulted in the cowling striking and bending four engine push rods causing a loss of engine power. A factor was the lack… 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.