# NTSB CEN10LA503: Air Tractor AT-401, N4530L, Castroville, TX, August 26, 2010 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 26, 2010, 10:35 local (15:35 UTC) - Place: Castroville, TX - Coordinates: 29.339622, -98.870697 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.3396&lon=-98.8707&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Maneuvering: Loss of engine power (partial)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report May 11, 2011 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 77103 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN10LA503 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/77103/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=77103 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN10LA503 ## Probable cause A loss of engine power due to the failure of the torque sensor bearing. ## 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 · Failure (probable cause); cases with it: [Air Tractor AT-401, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057200/cases.md?model=0390204), [All aircraft, 67 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057200/cases.md) - [Engine fuel and control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057300): Aircraft › Aircraft power plant · Damaged/degraded (probable cause); cases with it: [Air Tractor AT-401, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057300/cases.md?model=0390204), [All aircraft, 49 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057300/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Maneuvering: Loss of engine power (partial)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342) (defining event); cases with it: [Air Tractor AT-401, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342/sequence.md?model=0390204), [All aircraft, 1,858 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342/sequence.md) - [Emergency descent: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Air Tractor AT-401, 10 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=0390204), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis According to the pilot, he was maneuvering the airplane to reverse direction when the engine experienced a loss of power. The pilot leveled the airplane and attempted to restart the engine without success. During the forced landing, the airplane impacted several trees and bushes and was substantially damaged. A postaccident engine examination revealed that the torque sensor bearing failed resulting in the shutdown of the fuel system. ## Factual narrative On August 26, 2010, approximately 1035 central daylight time, an Air Tractor AT-401, N4530L, was substantially damaged during a forced landing to a field near Castroville, Texas. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The aerial applications flight was being conducted under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 137 without a flight plan. The commercial pilot was not injured. The local flight departed D'Hanis, Texas, approximately 1000. According to the written statement received from the pilot, he was pitching the airplane up to reverse direction when the "engine spooled down." The pilot leveled the airplane and attempted to restart the engine without success. During the forced landing, the airplane impacted several trees and bushes. Several ribs in the right wing were crushed aft and bent and the right wing spar was bent aft. According to the Federal Aviation Administration inspector who traveled to the scene, and was present during the engine examination, the torque sensor bearing failed resulting in the shutdown of the fuel system. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N4530L](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4530L-2012-01-25), registration cancelled 2012-01-25, S/N 401-0761 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: AIR TRACTOR INC AT-401 - Registry model: [Air Tractor AT-401](https://openairdocs.org/model/air-tractor-at-401) (registry code 0390204) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 401-0761 - Engines: Garrett TFE331 665 horsepower turbo prop - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Aerial application, Part 137 - Operator: Rustys Flying Service - Registered owner: Rustys Flying Service - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, February 16, 2010 - Departed: D'Hanis, TX - Destination: D'Hanis, TX ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 36; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review February 13, 2009; seat: single; flight hours: 304 total, 1,250 in this make and model, 3,004 as pilot in command, 365 in the last 90 days, 120 in the last 30 days, 8 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 45° at 5 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none ## 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 20100826043649A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20100826043649A), Aug 26, 2010: Air Tractor AT-401, Castroville, TX, Substantial damage. During aerial application the engine lost power. Pilot landed aircraft on adjacent field and struck some trees causing major damage to the wings. No other… ## Other investigations on N4530L (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 LAX05LA085](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX05LA085), Feb 4, 2005: Air Tractor AT-401 (N4530L), Calexico, CA, substantial damage. Probable cause: a loss of directional control due to a jammed rudder pedal, which prevented the pilot from exercising full rudder control authority. ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on January 27, 2011, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=77103. 7.1 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 5.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40338435&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - FAA Inspector Report (item 2, .PDF, 1.9 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40342172&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=FAA%20Inspector%20Report-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. --- 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.