# NTSB ATL05LA046: Air Tractor AT-402A, N90772, Bainbridge, GA, January 12, 2005 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: January 12, 2005, 15:00 local (20:00 UTC) - Place: Bainbridge, GA - Coordinates: 30.899999, -84.583335 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.9000&lon=-84.5833&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report December 20, 2005 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Atlanta FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 60883 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL05LA046 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/60883/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL05LA046 ## Probable cause The pilot's inadequate management of the fuel supply, which resulted in fuel starvation. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power, cruise - fuel management - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - fluid,fuel - starvation - Forced landing, descent - emergency - In flight collision with object, emergency descent/landing - object - tree(s) - terrain condition - ground ## Analysis On the day of the accident, the pilot operated the airplane in eight or nine flights, each lasting approximately 45 minutes in duration. The pilot refueled the airplane from a refueling tank kept at his private airstrip before the first flight of the day. On the last flight of the day, after spraying a field, the pilot noticed a gradual loss of engine power and the airplane began to lose altitude. The airplane collided with trees and the ground 1/2 mile from the approach end of runway 36. Post-accident examination of the turbine engine and the fuel control unit revealed no abnormalities. The right wing fuel tank contained approximately six gallons of Jet-A straw colored fuel and the left wing fuel tank contained approximately one quart of water. The inner web of both left and right tanks were punctured. There was no fuel recovered from the header tank and the fuel filter had fuel located in the bowl. The engine fuel filter appeared dirty and fuel in the bowl appeared discolored. The fuel last chance filter appeared clean with a small amount of fine particles in the engine bowl. The AT-402A has a fuel capacity of 167 gallons of usable fuel and three gallons of unusable fuel. ## Factual narrative On January 12, 2005, at 1500 Eastern Standard Time, N90772, an Air Tractor AT-402A agricultural airplane, collided with trees and the ground following a loss of engine power 500 feet from runway 36 at Brock Air Park, Bainbridge, Georgia. The aerial application flight was conducted under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 137, and visual flight rules. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident, and no flight plan was filed. The commercial pilot was not injured and the airplane sustained substantial damage. The flight originated at Brock Air Park, a private airstrip in Bainbridge, Georgia at 1415. According to the pilot, on the day of the accident, he operated the airplane during eight or nine flights, each lasting approximately 45 minutes in duration. He stated that he fueled the airplane from a refueling tank kept at his private airstrip before his first flight of the day. He stated that after spraying a field on the last flight of the day, he noticed a gradual loss of engine power, and the airplane began to lose altitude. The pilot increased propeller pitch to full, turned the electric fuel boost pump on, and made continuously unsuccessful attempts to restart the engine. The pilot determined that he would not be able to land on the runway, so he made a forced landing into a field of pine trees. The airplane collided with trees and the ground about 1/2 mile from the approach end of runway 36. Post-accident examination of the wreckage site revealed the airplane rested in a wooded area in a right wing low attitude and aligned along a 030 degree magnetic heading. Post-accident examination of the airplane revealed the right wing was partially separated from the fuselage at the wing root and the right wing spar was bent aft. The left wing was separated from the fuselage at the wing root. The fuselage structure and the landing gear were intact. Post-accident examination of the engine revealed that the turbine blades had slight rub marks at the hub. The exhaust area was crushed and buckled. Debris was observed in the exhaust area. Engine control continuity was established from the cockpit power quadrant to engine power controls. The engine also displayed light rotational contact signatures to its internal components. The gas generator rotated freely. The P-3 pneumatic air filter was clean and free of debris. The oil filter was clean and free of debris. The electric fuel pump provided fuel flow during the functional test. The three-blade propeller had one tip sheared, one tip bent aft, and one blade bent aft near the hub. Post-accident examination of the fuel control unit filter revealed that it was clean and free of debris and contained approximately two cups of fuel. The airframe fuel filter was clean and free of debris and contained approximately one cup of fuel. The right wing fuel tank contained approximately six gallons of Jet-A straw colored fuel, and the left wing fuel tank contained approximately one quart of water. The inner web of both left and right tanks were punctured. There was no fuel recovered from the header tank and the fuel filter had fuel located in the bowl. The engine fuel filter appeared to contain dirty and the fuel in the bowl appeared discolored. The fuel last chance filter appeared clean with a small amount of fine particles in the engine bowl. The airplane did not have the optional Emergency Fuel Control Override installed. According to witnesses, light rain showers were prevalent in the area on the evening of the accident. According to a Air Tractor representative, the AT-402A has a fuel capacity of 167 gallons of usable fuel and three gallons of unusable fuel. Post examination of the fuel control unit included a functional test preformed by Pratt and Whitney Canada, which determined no conditions that would preclude full engine control and full power being available. Laboratory examination of the low fuel warning light, fuel filter bypass warning light, air filter bypass warning light, chip detector warning light, and propeller in beta range light filaments were not stretched. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N90772](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N90772), registered now, S/N 402A-1112, built 1999 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Air Tractor AT-402A - Registry model: [Air Tractor AT-402A](https://openairdocs.org/model/air-tractor-at-402a) (registry code 0390206) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Pratt & Whitney PT6A series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-pt6a-series) (registry code 52032, turbo-prop) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 402A-1112 - Airframe hours: 1425 - Engines: Pratt & Whitney Canada PT-6-11AG 550 horsepower turbo prop - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Aerial application, Part 137 - Registered owner: Stephen Brock - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special); Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, September 1, 2004, 46 hours before - Departed: 83GA, BAINBRIDGE, GA - Destination: Bainbridge, GA - Airport: 83GA, Brock Airpark, runway 360, 3,450 × ft, grass/turf ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 50; injuries: minor; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review March 1, 2003; seat: single; flight hours: 9,900 total, 5,000 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 190° at 9 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Temperature: 75 °F, dew point 54 °F - Altimeter: 30.09 inHg - Observed at: kaby, 36 nm away ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20050112002649A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20050112002649A), Jan 12, 2005: Airtrc AT402A, Bainbridge, GA, Substantial damage. (-23) On return to brock airpark after a seeing run the aircraft engine surged then started to lose power. Aircraft impacted pine trees approximately 400 yards… 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.