20030424009619A

Accident · Substantial damage

FAA accident report · Airtrc AT-502 · Sedan, NM · April 24, 2003

Date: April 24, 2003 · 08:28 local
Place: Sedan, NM
Phase of flight: Low Level Operations
Operating rules: Agricultural (Part 137)
Operator: KTEG
Damage: Substantial damage
Aircraft: N318BR
NTSB investigation: NTSBDEN03LA077
Reported as: Airtrc AT502
Fatal injuries: 0
Pilot’s flight hours: 7,200 total

N318BRRegistration cancelled Feb 24, 2004 · Air Tractor AT-502S/N 502-0172 · Built 1992 Airframe modelAir Tractor AT-502 Engine modelPratt & Whitney PT6A seriesTurbo-prop

From the FAA’s Accident/Incident Data System (AIDS), through its Aviation Safety Information Portal, as reported. The NTSB investigates accidents separately, and its record of an accident is the fuller one. The aircraft is matched to the registry 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.

What happened

The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.

(-23) On April 24, 2003, at 0828 MDT, a walters powered air tractor 502, N318BR, registered to riddell flying service, inc of west helena, AR, lost power while in cruise prior to beginning aerial application. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time. No VFR flight plan was on file. The aircraft was substantially damaged and the commercial pilot sustained minor injuries. The flight originated at dalhart, Texas, on April 24, 2003 at 0814 MDT.

As the FAA filed it

(-23) ON APRIL 24, 2003, AT 0828 MDT, A WALTERS POWERED AIR TRACTOR 502, N318BR, REGISTERED TO RIDDELL FLYING SERVICE, INC OF WEST HELENA, AR, LOST POWER WHILE IN CRUISE PRIOR TO BEGINNING AERIAL APPLICATION. VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED AT THE TIME. NO VFR FLIGHT PLAN WAS ON FILE. THE AIRCRAFT WAS SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED AND THE COMMERCIAL PILOT SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES. THE FLIGHT ORIGINATED AT DALHART, TEXAS, ON APRIL 24, 2003 AT 0814 MDT.

NTSB investigation

The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.

NTSB DEN03LA077Accident · Minor injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportSedan, NMthe nonmechanical partial loss of engine power due to water contamination of the fuel. Contributing factors include the lack of suitable terrain for a forced landing (due to his low altitude), and the irrigation system (object) that was impacted.Apr 24, 2003 · Substantial damage