# Accident 20220511008159A: Air Tractor Inc AT-301, Somerville, TN, May 11, 2022

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: May 11, 2022, 19:00 local time
- Place: Somerville, TN
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Maneuver
- Operating rules: Agricultural (Part 137)
- Operator: ARFG
- Location: 36.5624° N, 87.7508° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.5624&lon=-87.7508&mi=10
- Aircraft: N31580, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N31580-2022-11-05) (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: 1
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ERA22LA224](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA22LA224) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20220511008159A

## Narrative

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

ON MAY 10TH 2022^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^OPERATOR OF N31580 AIR TRACTOR 301^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^

^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ FLEW AIRCRAFT TO HIS HOME BASE DYERSBURG, TN.

ON MAY 11TH ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ GOT HIS AIRCRAFT READY TO CONDUCT AERIAL SPRAYING. HE LEFT DYERSBURG AIRPORT(KDYR). HE CONDUCTED SPRAYER FOR APPROX. 1 1/2 HOURS. HE LANDED FOR ANOTHER LOAD PICKUP. ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ FLEW TO CONDUCT ANOTHER PASSING OF THE FIELD, WHEN HE NOTICED FIRE COMING FROM THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE ENGINE. THE PILOT SECURED THE ENGINE AND PERFORMED AN EMERGENCY LANDING IN THE FIELD HE WAS SPRAYING. THE MAINS TOUCHED DOWN FORST, THEN THE TAIL.  UPON A LANDING THE AIRCRAFT, THE AIRCRAFT WAS SLOWING DOWN, WHEN IT HIT A DITCH IN THE FIELD WHICH CAUSE THE AIRCRAFT TO FLIP OVER. ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ WAS ABLE TO EVACUATE FROM THE AIRCRAFT WITH MINOR INJURIES.  FAA INSPECTORS WERE ONSCENE THE FOLLOWING MORNING. MAY 13TH THE AIRCRAFT WAS REMOVED FROM THE FIELD AND TAKEN TO A SECURE AREA FOR AN ENGINE TEARDOWN. THE 22ND OF JUNE THE NTSB AND A REPRESENTIVE FROM AIR TRACTOR ARRIVED WHERE THE AIRCRAFT WAS BEING HOUSED. THE ENGINE WAS INSPECTED AND SEVERAL AREAS OF THE EXHAUST SYSTEM HAD SEPERATIONS WHICHED CAUSE AN EXHAUST LEAK WHICH APPEARS TO BE LEAKING FOR SOMETIME. OIL LEAKED INTO THE OPENINGS OF THE EXHAUST WHICH CAUSE THE FIRE IN THE ENGINE BAY. THE AICCRAFT WAS HAD AN ANNUAL INSPECTION COMPLETED ON THE 4TH OF MAY 2022 6 DAYS BEFORE ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^TOOK CONTROL OF THE AIRCRAFT.

## 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 ERA22LA224](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA22LA224), May 11, 2022: Air Tractor AT-301 (N31580), Somerville, TN, substantial damage. Probable cause: The inadequate inspection and maintenance of the engine exhaust system, which resulted in an in-flight fire.

## Other reports on N31580 (1)

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.

- [Accident 19950528017769A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19950528017769A), May 28, 1995: Airtrc AT301 (N31580), Terreton, ID, Substantial damage. Encountered downdraft from nearby thunderstorm on a spray run. Dumped load but unable recover. Impacted ground.

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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