# Accident 20220521021849A: Air Tractor Inc AT-602, Sacramento, CA, May 21, 2022

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: May 21, 2022, 11:00 local time
- Place: Sacramento, CA
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Maneuver
- Operating rules: Agricultural (Part 137)
- Operator: 4YRG
- Location: 38.8386° N, 121.5472° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.8386&lon=-121.5472&mi=10
- Aircraft: N8521V, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N8521V) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Air Tractor AT-602 (registry code 0390309, https://openairdocs.org/model/air-tractor-at-602) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Pratt & Whitney PT6A series (registry code 52032, https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-pt6a-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: AIR TRACTOR INC AT-602
- Reported engine: P&W PT6A SER
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 31,200 total
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB WPR21LA368](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR21LA368) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20220521021849A

## Narrative

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

THE PILOT REPORTED THAT HE WAS APPLYING SEED TO A RICE FIELD AND WAS MAKING A TURN TO RETURN TO THE FIELD WHEN THE ENGINE QUIT. THE PILOT STATED THAT HE TRIED TO RE-START THE ENGINE WHILE AIMING FOR A PLOWED FIELD TO LAND. THE PILOT SAID THAT AFTER LANDING IN THE PLOWED FIELD HE COULD NOT SLOW THE AIRCRAFT DOWN ENOUGH TO AVOID GOING INTO A SMALL DITCH. PICTURES FROM THE DAMAGED AIRCRAFT AS WELL AS THE PILOT STATEMENT INDICATE DAMAGE TO THE LEFT LANDING GEAR, WINGS, AND PROPELLER BLADES. SIGNATURES FROM THE PROPELLER BLADES INDICATE THAT THE ENGINE WAS NOT OPERATING AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT. THE PILOT STATED THAT WHEN HE CHECKED THE FUEL TANKS AFTER THE ACCIDENT THAT THE LEFT TANK SHOWED 15 GALLONS WHILE THE RIGHT SHOWED EMPTY. THE PILOT STATED THAT THERE IS NOT A FUEL SELECTOR BETWEEN LEFT AND RIGHT FUEL TANKS.

## 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 WPR21LA368](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR21LA368), May 21, 2022: Air Tractor AT-602 (N8521V), Sacramento, CA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's inadequate fuel management, which resulted in a total loss of engine power due to fuel starvation.

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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