# NTSB CEN11CA098: Air Tractor AT-602, N9145H, Gregory, AR, December 2, 2010 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: December 2, 2010, 09:30 local (15:30 UTC) - Place: Gregory, AR - Coordinates: 35.152221, -91.259162 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.1522&lon=-91.2592&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Initial climb: Fuel contamination](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/193) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report October 6, 2011 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 77954 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN11CA098 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/77954/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=77954 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN11CA098 ## Probable cause The pilot’s inadequate preflight inspection and failure to detect water contaminated fuel, which resulted in a loss of engine power during takeoff. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Fluids: fuel](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010): Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware · Inadequate inspection (probable cause); cases with it: [Air Tractor AT-602, 8 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md?model=0390309), [All aircraft, 1,695 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md) - [Fluids: fuel](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010): Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware · Not specified (probable cause); cases with it: [Air Tractor AT-602, 8 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md?model=0390309), [All aircraft, 1,695 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md) - [Inspection: preflight inspection](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061510): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Air Tractor AT-602, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061510/cases.md?model=0390309), [All aircraft, 551 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061510/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Initial climb: Fuel contamination](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/193) (defining event); cases with it: [Air Tractor AT-602, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/193/sequence.md?model=0390309), [All aircraft, 225 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/193/sequence.md) - [Emergency descent: Controlled flight into terr/obj (CFIT)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/120); cases with it: [Air Tractor AT-602, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/120/sequence.md?model=0390309), [All aircraft, 1,074 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/120/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot departed on his third aerial application flight for the day. Shortly after take-off, the engine lost power and the pilot elected to conduct a forced landing in a field. During touchdown, the airplane landed hard and received substantial damage. After the accident, the pilot reported that this was the first flight since refueling the airplane. The pilot also added that he did not check the fuel supply, prior to refueling the airplane. An examination of the airplane and refueling tanks, after the accident, revealed water was present in the fuel. ## Factual narrative The pilot departed on this third aerial application flight for the day. Shortly after take-off, the engine lost power and the pilot elected to conduct a forced landing in a field. During touchdown, the airplane landed hard and received substantial damage. After the accident, the pilot reported that this was the first flight since refueling the airplane. The pilot also added that he did not check the fuel supply, prior to refueling the airplane. An examination of the airplane and refueling tanks, after the accident, revealed water was present in the fuel. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N9145H](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N9145H), registered now, S/N 602-0630, built 2001 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: AIR TRACTOR INC AT-602 - Registry model: [Air Tractor AT-602](https://openairdocs.org/model/air-tractor-at-602) (registry code 0390309) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Pratt & Whitney Canada JT15D 5 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-canada-jt15d-5-series) (registry code 52113, turbo-fan) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 602-0630 - Airframe hours: 3564 - Engines: P&W CANADA JT15D 5 SER 2900 lbs thrust turbo prop - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Aerial application, Part 137 - Operator: Reynolds Flying Service Inc - Registered owner: Reynolds Flying Service Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special) - Last inspection: 100 hour, January 20, 2010 - Departed: NA, Gregory, AR - Destination: NA, Gregory, AR - Flight plan: Unknown - Airport: NA, Private ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 51; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review November 15, 2010; seat: single; flight hours: 16,500 total, 6,500 in this make and model, 16,500 as pilot in command, 200 in the last 90 days, 50 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 150° at 5 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles ## 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 20101202052439A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20101202052439A), Dec 2, 2010: Air Tractor AT-602, Gregory, AR, Substantial damage. On December 2, 2010, at 1045 CST, an Air Tractor 602, N9145H, registered to reynolds flying service, inc, contacted the ground when engine stopped running at 2… ## Docket (1 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on January 10, 2011, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=77954. 689 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 689 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40341360&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. --- 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.