# Accident 20120829017199A: Air Tractor Inc AT-301, Ralls, TX, August 29, 2012

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: August 29, 2012, 15:30 local time
- Place: Ralls, TX
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Other, Specify
- Operating rules: Agricultural (Part 137)
- Operator: 1BTG
- Location: 33.6078° N, 101.3236° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.6078&lon=-101.3236&mi=10
- Aircraft: N23960, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N23960-2016-01-19) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Air Tractor AT-301 (registry code 0390103, https://openairdocs.org/model/air-tractor-at-301) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Pratt & Whitney R1340 series (registry code 52016, https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-r1340-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: AIR TRACTOR INC AT-301
- Reported engine: P&W R1340 SERIES
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot, private pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 675 total, 225 in this make and model, 225 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CEN12LA589](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN12LA589) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20120829017199A

## Narrative

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

APPROXIMATLY 1530 CDT ON AUGUST 29, 2012, THE PILOT WAS PERFORMING AERIAL APPLICATIONS OF A COTTON FIELD WITH HERBICIDES (ROUNDUP). HE TOOK OFF FROM CROSBYTON MUNICIPAL AIRPORT (8F3) AROUND 1515. WHILE SPRAYING THE FIELD, HE WAS TURNING TO RE-ENTER THE FIELD FOR THE NEXT PASS, WHEN THE ENGINE LOST POWER.  AFTER AN ATTEMPT TO RESTORE POWER, HE TRIED TO LAND ON A TURN ROAD IN THE MIDDLE OF THE FIELD. AS THE PILOT TOUCHED DOWN, HE HIT SOFT DIRT WHICH CAUSED THE AIRCRAFT TO FLIP ON ITS BACK. THERE WAS SUSTANTIAL DAMAGE TO THE AIRCRAFT. NO INJURIES TO THE PILOT ON BOARD.

## 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 CEN12LA589](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN12LA589), Aug 29, 2012: Air Tractor AT-301 (N23960), Ralls, TX, substantial damage. Probable cause: The total loss of engine power due to a fatigue failure of the rocker arm journal casting of the rocker arm cap.

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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