# NTSB CEN09CA295: Air Tractor AT502, N248LF, Lisse, TX, May 8, 2009

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: May 8, 2009, 15:00 local (20:00 UTC)
- Place: Lisse, TX
- Coordinates: 29.489999, -96.173057 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.4900&lon=-96.1731&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 1 minor
- Status: Completed, report November 9, 2009
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Central Region
- Parties: FAA Houston FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 73831
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN09CA295
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/73831/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=73831
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN09CA295

## Probable cause

A total loss of engine power for undetermined reasons.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Power plant](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057100): Aircraft › Aircraft power plant · Not specified (probable cause); cases with it: [Air Tractor AT-502A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057100/cases.md?model=0390306), [All aircraft, 198 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057100/cases.md)
- [Not determined](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000): Not determined › Not determined · Unknown/Not determined (probable cause); cases with it: [Air Tractor AT-502A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md?model=0390306), [All aircraft, 2,247 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Unknown or undetermined](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/000); cases with it: [Air Tractor AT-502A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/000/sequence.md?model=0390306), [All aircraft, 1,703 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/000/sequence.md)
- [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) (defining event); cases with it: [Air Tractor AT-502A, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=0390306), [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot was flying downwind approximately 50 feet above ground level, on an agricultural application pass, when the engine quit. The pilot landed straight ahead and hit two levees and a canal bank before coming to rest upside down. There was substantial damage to both wings, the empennage, and the tail surfaces, but only minor injuries to the pilot, who was the only occupant. The Federal Aviation Administration inspector who responded to the accident scene said that his visual check of the fuel in the airplane and in the operator’s supply facilities showed fuel that was clean and uncontaminated. The reason for the loss of engine power was undetermined. Weather reported at the time of the accident was 10 miles visibility, with few clouds at 3,700 feet, southerly winds at 14 knots, gusting to 21 knots with a temperature of 90 degrees and dew point of 72 degrees.

## Factual narrative

The 30,000 hour commercial rated pilot was flying downwind at approximately 50 feet on an agricultural application pass at the end of the field when the engine quit. The pilot landed straight ahead and hit two levees and a canal bank before coming to rest upside down. There was substantial damage to both wings, the empennage, and the tail surfaces, but only minor injuries to the pilot, who was the only occupant. The FAA inspector who responded to the accident scene said his visual check of the fuel in the airplane and in the operator’s supply facilities showed fuel that was clean and uncontaminated. The loss of engine power was undetermined. Weather reported at the time of the accident was 10 miles visibility, with few clouds at 3,700 feet, southerly winds at 14 knots, gusting to 21 knots with a temperature of 90 degrees and dew point of 72 degrees.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N248LF](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N248LF-2010-06-22), registration cancelled 2010-06-22, S/N 502A-0192, built 1992 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: AIR TRACTOR AT502 (A)
- Registry model: [Air Tractor AT-502A](https://openairdocs.org/model/air-tractor-at-502a) (registry code 0390306) (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: 502A-0192
- Airframe hours: 7141
- Engines: PRATT AND WHITNEY PT6A-45A 1100 horsepower turbo prop
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Aerial application, Part 137
- Operator: Lissie Flying Service Inc.
- Registered owner: Lissie Flying Service Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special)
- Last inspection: Annual, April 13, 2009, 44 hours before
- Departed: Lissie, TX
- Destination: Lissie, TX
- Airport: KELA, Eagle Lake Airport

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 58; injuries: minor; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review February 18, 2009; seat: single; flight hours: 30,000 total, 10,000 in this make and model, 30,000 as pilot in command, 40 in the last 90 days, 40 in the last 30 days, 15 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 190° at 14 knots, gusting 21
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 90 °F, dew point 72 °F
- Altimeter: 29.79 inHg
- Observed at: KSGR, 28 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 20090508007079A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20090508007079A), May 8, 2009: Airtrc AT502A, Lissie, TX, Destroyed. (-23) On may 8, 2009 at 1500 central standard time, an air tractor (AT-502A), was destroyed after losing engine power and landing in a rice field, 3 miles…

## Other investigations on N248LF (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 FTW97LA225](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW97LA225), Jun 13, 1997: Air Tractor AT-502A (N248LF), Chesterville, TX, substantial damage. Probable cause: an undetermined malfunction/failure of the propeller reversing system.

## Docket (1 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 22, 2009, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=73831. 353 KB in all.

- Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 353 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40314857&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF

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.

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