# Accident 20110810020579A: Air Tractor Inc AT-400, Nelson, NE, August 10, 2011

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: August 10, 2011, 19:30 local time
- Place: Nelson, NE
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Landing: Approach
- Operating rules: Agricultural (Part 137)
- Operator: PSTG
- Location: 40.2011° N, 98.0667° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.2011&lon=-98.0667&mi=10
- Aircraft: N3659N, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N3659N) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Air Tractor AT-400 (registry code 0390202, https://openairdocs.org/model/air-tractor-at-400) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Amateur-built UNKNOWN ENG (registry code 99999, https://openairdocs.org/engine/amateur-built-unknown-eng) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: AIR TRACTOR INC AT-400
- Reported engine: P&W PT6A-15AG
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 8,000 total, 400 in this make and model, 100 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CEN11LA566](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN11LA566) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20110810020579A

## Narrative

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

PILOT NOTICED ENGINE TORQUE FLUCTUATION OF 10-15 LBS, YET CONTINUED TO OPERATE AT 75% POWER. PILOT PULLED FUEL CUTOFF TO SHUT DOWN ENGINE. PILOT LANDED 253 FEET SHORT OF HIS PRIVATE STRIP. INSPECTOR REMOVED FUEL LINE FROM FIREWALL FILTER TO SECONDARY ENGINE PUMP. NO VISIBLE FUEL IN LINE OR FILTER. VERIFIED OPERATION OF SECONDARY PUMP WITH NO ISSUES NOTED. REMOVED MAIN PUMP/FILTER, THIS FILTER STILL HAD VISIBLE FUEL IN IT. FUEL GAUGE INDICATED LEFT TANK WITH 1/2 FUEL AND RIGHT TANK WITH 3/4 FUEL.WAITING FOR NTSB ADVISEMENT ON FURTHER ACTION NEEDED.

## 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 CEN11LA566](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN11LA566), Aug 11, 2011: Air Tractor AT-400 (N3659N), Nelson, NE, substantial damage. Probable cause: Failure of the fuel control unit's spool cap bearing for reasons that could not be determined during extensive postaccident examination, and the pilot’s decision to shut the engine down without…

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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