# Accident 20170915019409A: Air Tractor Inc AT-502, Union City, TN, September 15, 2017

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: September 15, 2017, 09:15 local time
- Place: Union City, TN
- Airport: Everett -Stewart Regional
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Cruise/Level Flight
- Operating rules: Agricultural (Part 137)
- Operator: LGLG
- Location: 36.3928° N, 89.1167° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.3928&lon=-89.1167&mi=10
- Aircraft: N4531K, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4531K-2021-03-29) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Air Tractor AT-502 (registry code 0390303, https://openairdocs.org/model/air-tractor-at-502) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-60A (registry code 52043, https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-canada-pt6a-60a) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: AIR TRACTOR INC AT-502
- Reported engine: P&W CANADA PT6A-60A
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 18,000 total, 3,034 in this make and model, 348 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ERA17LA326](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA17LA326) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20170915019409A

## Narrative

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

THE COMMERCIAL PILOT WAS THE SOLE OCCUPANT AND PILOT OF AIRCRAFT N4531K THAT DEPARTED FULTON COUNTY AIRPORT, KENTUCKY, FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 15, 2017, AT 0915 LOCAL, 1715Z, WHILE EN ROUTE TO UNION CITY, TENNESSEE, TO PERFORM A PART 137 AGRICULTURAL SEEDING OPERATION. WHILE AT CRUISING ALTITUDE AND SPEED, THE PILOT HEARD A LOUD SOUND RESEMBLING A POPPING NOISE THAT CAME FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. IMMEDIATELY THE AIRCRAFT LOSS ALL ENGINE POWER AND BEGAN TO DECEND.  THE PILOT NOTICED WALKER TANNER ROAD TO HIS EAST AND INITIATED EMERGENCY LANDING PROCEDURES. ON APPROACH HE NOTICED A VEHICLE IN HIS DIRECT PATH. HE EXECUTED A LEFT TURN OFF THE ROAD STRIKING TWO NON-POWERED LINES THE AIRCRAFT CAME TO A STOP IN A CORN FIELD THAT RUNS PARRELLEL TO WALKER TANNER ROAD. THE PILOT SUSTAINED NO APPARENT INJURIES IN THE LANDING OF N4531K.  INITIAL VISUAL OBSERVATION SUGGEST THE AIRCRAFT SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE TO MAJOR STRUCTURAL PARTS ON IMPACT THAT DISIGNATE THIS EVENT AN ACCIDENT.

## 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 ERA17LA326](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA17LA326), Sep 15, 2017: Air Tractor AT 502 (N4531K), Union City, TN, substantial damage. Probable cause: The catastrophic failure of the compressor turbine blades, which resulted in a total loss of engine power. Contributing to the accident was the installation of undocumented, time-limited engine…

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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