# Accident 20240910013889A: Air Tractor Inc AT-802, Hickory Valley, TN, September 10, 2024

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: September 10, 2024, 08:43 local time
- Place: Hickory Valley, TN
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Other, Specify
- Operating rules: Agricultural (Part 137)
- Operator: KTFG
- Location: 35.1835° N, 89.1003° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.1835&lon=-89.1003&mi=10
- Aircraft: N802JF, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N802JF) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Air Tractor AT-802 (registry code 0390305, https://openairdocs.org/model/air-tractor-at-802) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-65AG (registry code 52109, https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-canada-pt6a-65ag) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: AIR TRACTOR INC AT-802
- Reported engine: P&W CANADA PT6A-65AG
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ERA24LA375](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA24LA375) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20240910013889A

## Narrative

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

ON SEPTEMBER 10, 2024, ABOUT 0843 CENTRAL DAYLIGHT TIME, AN AIR TRACTOR AT-802, WAS SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED WHEN IT WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT NEAR HICKORY VALLEY, TENNESSEE. THE AIRLINE TRANSPORT PILOT WAS NOT INJURED. THE AIRPLANE WAS OPERATED AS A TITLE 14 CODE OF FEDERAL REGULATIONS PART 137 AERIAL APPLICATION FLIGHT.

THE PILOT REPORTED THAT HE DEPARTED BOLIVAR TENNESSEE TO SPRAY FIELDS ABOUT 6 MILES TO THE SOUTHWEST. THE AIRMEN HAD MADE MULTIPLE PASSES OVER THE TARGET FIELDS WHEN THE AIRMEN NOTICED THE FUEL FLOW WAS LOWER THAN HE HAD SET. THE AIRMEN PUSHED THE POWER LEVER FORWARD TO INCREASE POWER AND THE ENGINE BEGAN TO LOSE POWER. THE AIRMEN THEN PUSHED THE POWER AND CONDITION LEVERS TO THE FORWARD STOPS IN AN ATTEMPT TO REGAIN POWER, BUT THE ENGINE CONTINUED TO "ROLL BACK." HE JETTISONED THE AERIAL APPLICATION PAYLOAD IN THE HOPPER AND INITIATED A FORCED LANDING. THE AIRPLANE IMPACTED A HAY FIELD AND BOUNCED ON A SLIGHT UPHILL SECTION BEFORE COMING TO REST.

POST ACCIDENT EXAMINATION OF THE AIRCRAFT FOUND SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE TO THE ENGINE MOUNTS AND FUSELAGE. THE FAA INSPECTORS WERE ABLE TO CONFIRM CONTINUITY OF CONTROLS FROM THE FLIGHT CONTROLS IN THE COCKPIT TO THE RESPECTIVE FLIGHT CONTROL SURFACES. FAA INSPECTORS WERE ABLE TO ESTABLISH CONTINUITY OF THE THROTTLE CONTROL FROM THE CONTROL IN THE COCKPIT TO THE ACTUATOR ON THE FUEL CONTROL UNIT, WHICH MOVED FROM STOP TO STOP.

THE PILOT REPORTED THAT HE DEPARTED WITH ABOUT 88 GALLONS OF JET-A AVIATION FUEL IN EACH OF THE WING TANKS AND THAT THE AIRMEN HAD BEEN USING THE SAME SUPPLY OF FUEL FOR THE PREVIOUS DAY'S OPERATIONS. THE AIRMEN ALSO REPORTED THAT THE FUEL WAS SUMPED THE MORNING OF THE ACCIDENT FLIGHT AND NO CONTAMINATION WAS NOTED.

REVIEW OF DATA DOWNLOADED FROM THE ENGINE INDICATING SYSTEM SHOWED THAT ABOUT 26 MINUTES AFTER THE RECORDING BEGAN AND ABOUT 10 MINUTES AFTER TAKEOFF, THE FUEL FLOW BEGAN TO DROP. IT DROPPED FROM ABOUT 82 GALLONS PER HOUR TO ABOUT 11 GALLONS PER HOUR OVER 24 SECONDS. THE TORQUE, PROPELLER RPM, AND GAS GENERATOR SPEED ALL BEGAN TO DROP COINCIDENT WITH THE DECREASED FUEL FLOW UNTIL THE END OF THE DATA.

## 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 ERA24LA375](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA24LA375), Sep 10, 2024: Air Tractor AT-802 (N802JF), Hickory Valley, TN, substantial damage. Probable cause: A partial loss of engine power due to a leak in the fuel control unit bellows, which resulted in the fuel valve moving to minimum fuel flow.

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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