# NTSB CEN10LA217: Air Tractor AT-802A, N9197F, Alpine, TX, April 21, 2010

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: April 21, 2010, 18:15 local (23:15 UTC)
- Place: Alpine, TX
- Coordinates: 30.181667, -103.58361
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.1817&lon=-103.5836&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Landing-landing roll: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report October 21, 2010
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Central Region
- Parties: FAA Flight Standards District Office
- NTSB case key (mKey): 75826
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN10LA217
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/75826/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=75826
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN10LA217

## Probable cause

A total loss of engine power for undetermined reasons.

## Findings

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

- [Engine (turbine/turboprop)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057200): Aircraft › Aircraft power plant · Malfunction (probable cause); cases with it: [Air Tractor AT-802A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057200/cases.md?model=0390308), [All aircraft, 67 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057200/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-802A, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md?model=0390308), [All aircraft, 2,247 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md)
- [Terrain: rough terrain](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021015): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome; cases with it: [Air Tractor AT-802A, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021015/cases.md?model=0390308), [All aircraft, 442 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021015/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

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

- [Enroute-cruise: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341); cases with it: [Air Tractor AT-802A, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=0390308), [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md)
- [Emergency descent: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440); cases with it: [Air Tractor AT-802A, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=0390308), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md)
- [Landing-landing roll: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470) (defining event); cases with it: [Air Tractor AT-802A, 27 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=0390308), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot had finished spraying a field when the "the engine popped and white smoke came out of the exhaust" and the engine lost power. The pilot attempted to land on a road, but the airplane struck a barbed wire fence and the left main gear hit a "bull hole" and sheared off. A preliminary examination and borescope of the engine revealed no anomalies with the filters and chip detectors. The fuel pump was within acceptance test procedure limits. The fuel control unit (FCU) was slightly high on Wf. The FCU base was removed to inspect the drive-bearing. There was a little organic debris in the bellows cavity. No defects or damage to the fuel pump or FCU was found that would have precluded normal operation. The Py line from the governor to the FCU pressure tested satisfactory. The engine ran in a test cell with no anomalies. Engine trim was slightly out of specifications, but acceleration and deceleration were normal. Disassembly of the combustion chamber revealed no anomalies.

## Factual narrative

On April 21, 2010, approximately 1815 central daylight time, an Air Tractor AT-802A, N9197F, registered to and operated by Aero Tech, Inc., Clovis, New Mexico, was substantially damaged when its engine lost power and the pilot was forced to make an off-airport landing in a field 20 miles south of Alpine, Texas. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The aerial application flight was being conducted under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 137 without a flight plan. The pilot was not injured. The local flight originated from Alpine-Casparis Municipal Airport (E38), Alpine, Texas, approximately 1610. According to the pilot's accident report, he had finished spraying a field and was returning to the airport. The airplane was cruising at 175 mph between 6500 and 6800 feet msl when the "the engine popped and white smoke came out of the exhaust" and the engine lost power. The pilot attempted to land on a road but the airplane struck a barbed wire fence and the left main gear hit a "bull hole" and sheared off. The right flap was torn loose, the left elevator leading edge was crushed, and the spreader was torn off. The pilot told FAA inspectors that he took off with 250 gallons of fuel. He flew for about 2 hours and 20 minutes. He said normal fuel consumption is about 75 gph (gallons per hour). The pilot further stated that the fuel gauge registered 1/4 fuel remaining in the left tank and ¼ to 1/2 fuel remaining in the right tank. The airplane was equipped with a Shadin fuel flow monitoring system that measures fuel flow to the engine and calculates gallons remaining. The pilot said he resets the system when the airplane is refueled. The Shadin fuel flow monitoring system was showing 65 gallons remaining at the accident site. When the airplane was retrieved, the salvage company estimated about 25 gallons of fuel was drained from the wings. A preliminary engine examination was conducted at George's aircraft in Vernon, Texas, on April 27, 2010. The filters, chip detectors, and borescope of the engine revealed no anomalies. On May 11, 2010, the fuel pump and fuel control unit (FCU) were tested at facilities of Pratt &Whitney Canada (P&WC) in Montreal. The fuel pump was within ATP limits. The fuel control unit (FCU) was slightly high on Wf but, according to P&WC, this would not have contributed to the power loss. The FCU base was removed to inspect the drive-bearing. There was a little organic debris in the bellows cavity, but this was not considered unusual. No defects or damage to the fuel pump or FCU was found that would have precluded normal operation. The Py line from the governor to the FCU pressure tested satisfactory. The engine was examined and disassembled at the facilities of P&WC in Bridgeport, West Virginia, on June 21 and 22, 2010. The engine ran in a test cell with no anomalies. Engine trim was slightly out of specifications, but acceleration and deceleration were normal.Disassembly of the combustion chamber revealed no anomalies.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N9197F](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N9197F-2022-08-12), registration cancelled 2022-08-12, S/N 802A-0009, built 1994 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: AIR TRACTOR AT-802A
- Registry model: [Air Tractor AT-802A](https://openairdocs.org/model/air-tractor-at-802a) (registry code 0390308) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Pratt & Whitney PT6A series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-pt6a-series) (registry code 52034, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 802A-0009
- Airframe hours: 6911
- Engines: PT6A-65AG 1295 horsepower turbo prop
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Aerial application, Part 137
- Operator: Aero Tech, Inc.
- Registered owner: Aero Tech, Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special)
- Last inspection: AAIP, February 28, 2010, 20 hours before
- Departed: E38, Alpine, TX

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 59; injuries: none; commercial, airline transport, flight instructor; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review February 27, 2009; seat: single; flight hours: 21,000 total, 1,500 in this make and model, 19,000 as pilot in command, 170 in the last 90 days, 100 in the last 30 days, 7 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 200° at 18 knots, gusting 24
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Temperature: 81 °F, dew point 46 °F
- Altimeter: 29.79 inHg
- Observed at: E38

## 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 20100421032249A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20100421032249A), Apr 21, 2010: Air Tractor AT-802A, Alpine, TX, Substantial damage. On April 21, 2010, at approximately 1830 CDT, the pilot of N9197F, an AT-802 agricultural aircraft, was maneuvering while dispensing herbicide pellets on a…

## Other investigations on N9197F (2)

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 WPR21LA310](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR21LA310), Jul 30, 2021: Air Tractor AT-802A (N9197F), Fort Sumner, NM, destroyed. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to maintain adequate clearance from a windmill while maneuvering during an aerial application flight.
- [NTSB FTW97LA331](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW97LA331), Aug 27, 1997: Air Tractor AT-802A (N9197F), Pineland, TX, substantial damage. Probable cause: failure of the right main wheel brake, during the landing roll. A factor relating to the accident was: the pilot's failure (or inability) to maintain directional control of the airplane, after loss…

## Docket (13 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 2, 2010, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=75826. 13.5 MB in all.

- NTSB Form 6120.1-2, Pilot-Operator Aircraft Accident Report (item 1, .PDF, 461 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40333924&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=NTSB%20Form%206120.1-2,%20Pilot-Operator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report-Redacted.PDF
- Letter from Robert A. Phillips to FAA (item 2, .PDF, 526 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40332908&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Letter%20from%20Robert%20A.%20Phillips%20to%20FAA-Redacted.PDF
- Pratt & Whitney Canada Factual Notes (item 3, .PDF, 8.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40333857&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pratt%20%26%20Whitney%20Canada%20Factual%20Notes-Redacted.PDF
- Pratt & Whitney Engine Examination Report (item 4, .PDF, 2.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40333858&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pratt%20%26%20Whitney%20Engine%20Examination%20Report-Redacted.PDF
- Map of Accident Area (item 5, .PDF, 298 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40332909&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Map%20of%20Accident%20Area-Master.PDF
- Weather Reports and Records (item 6, .PDF, 19 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40332904&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Weather%20Reports%20and%20Records-Master.PDF
- Photo 1. N9197F at accident site. (item 7, .PDF, 606 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40332928&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201.%20N9197F%20at%20accident%20site.-Master.PDF
- Photo 2. Left main landing gear torn away. (item 8, .PDF, 660 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40332930&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%202.%20Left%20main%20landing%20gear%20torn%20away.-Master.PDF
- Photo 3. Damage to underside of fuselage. (item 9, .PDF, 371 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40332933&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%203.%20Damage%20to%20underside%20of%20fuselage.-Master.PDF
- Photo 4. Damage to right flap and aileron. (item 10, .PDF, 281 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40332938&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%204.%20Damage%20to%20right%20flap%20and%20aileron.-Master.PDF
- Photo 5. Clean fuel tank finger strainers. (item 11, .PDF, 59 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40332943&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%205.%20Clean%20fuel%20tank%20finger%20strainers.-Master.PDF
- Photo 6. Fuel filter housing, showing fuel amount. (item 12, .PDF, 84 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40332944&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%206.%20Fuel%20filter%20housing,%20showing%20fuel%20amount.-Master.PDF
- Photo 7. Fuel samples captured from airframe fuel filter housing drain port. (item 13, .PDF, 121 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40332945&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%207.%20Fuel%20samples%20captured%20from%20airframe%20fuel%20filter%20housing%20drain%20port.-Master.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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