# NTSB CEN13LA152: Air Tractor AT-401, N9190B, Victoria, TX, January 31, 2013 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: January 31, 2013, 08:45 local (14:45 UTC) - Place: Victoria, TX - Coordinates: 28.75361, -96.984169 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=28.7536&lon=-96.9842&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Maneuvering: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report January 30, 2014 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 86148 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN13LA152 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/86148/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=86148 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN13LA152 ## Probable cause The mechanical failure of the engine power section, which resulted in a loss of engine power. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Engine (reciprocating): recip engine power section](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058520): Aircraft › Aircraft power plant · Failure (probable cause); cases with it: [Air Tractor AT-401, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058520/cases.md?model=0390204), [All aircraft, 233 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058520/cases.md) - [Object/animal/substance: tree(s)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022020): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome; cases with it: [Air Tractor AT-401, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022020/cases.md?model=0390204), [All aircraft, 933 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022020/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 (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) (defining event); cases with it: [Air Tractor AT-401, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=0390204), [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-401, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=0390204), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/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 The pilot reported that the engine started running roughly about 8 to 10 minutes into an agricultural application flight. He tried various magneto switch positions to troubleshoot the problem; however, the engine continued to lose power, so the pilot executed a forced landing in trees on flat terrain. Postaccident engine examinations revealed that the engine's propeller was locked in place due to a failure in the engine power section. ## Factual narrative **This report was modified on 2/19/2014. Please see the public docket for this accident to see the original report.** On January 31, 2013, about 0845 central standard time, an Air Tractor Inc., AT-401 airplane, N9190B, impacted trees and terrain during a forced landing following an in-flight loss of engine power during agricultural application maneuvers near Victoria, Texas. The pilot was not injured. The airplane sustained substantial damage. The airplane was registered to and operated by the pilot, under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 137, as an agricultural application flight. Day visual flight rules (VFR) conditions prevailed for the flight, which did not operate on a VFR flight plan. The local flight originated from a private airstrip near Victoria, Texas, about 0835. The pilot reported that he experienced a loss of engine power about eight to ten minutes into the flight. He tried various magneto switch positions and checked the magnetos where that troubleshooting did not return the lost engine power. The engine power loss worsened and the pilot executed a forced landing "in trees on flat terrain." The pilot reported that a 600-horsepower Pratt & Whitney R-1340 engine with serial number 18116 powered the airplane. He indicated that the engine had accumulated 553 hours of flight time since overhaul and 13 hours since its last inspection. A review of images acquired by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed the airplane sustained substantial wing damage. A recovery company representative examined the engine when it was recovered and found the propeller was "locked" in place. The representative stated that "metal" was found in the engine oil. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N9190B](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N9190B-2013-08-21), registration cancelled 2013-08-21, S/N 401-0922, built 1993 (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) - Registry engine: [Pratt & Whitney R1340 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-r1340-series) (registry code 52016, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 401-0922 - Airframe hours: 6924 - Engines: P&W R1340 SERIES 600 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Aerial application, Part 137 - Operator: Morgenroth, Dardon L - Registered owner: Morgenroth, Dardon L - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special) - Last inspection: 100 hour, November 18, 2012 - Departed: Victoria, TX - Destination: Victoria, TX ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 53; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review November 26, 2012; seat: single; flight hours: 13,000 total, 2,600 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 240° at 5 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 48 °F, dew point 37 °F - Altimeter: 30.31 inHg - Observed at: VCT, 15 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 20130131004359A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20130131004359A), Jan 31, 2013: Air Tractor Inc AT-401, Victoria, TX, Substantial damage. Pilot stated he departed private strip. 8 to 10 min. In to the flight the engine started running rough like a dead miss, checked mags no difference. Problem… ## Other investigations on N9190B (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 DFW06CA152](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DFW06CA152), Jun 3, 2006: Air Tractor AT-401 (N9190B), Victoria, TX, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's delay in aborting the takeoff which resulted in an overrun. A contributing factor was the unfavorable wind. ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on November 25, 2013, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=86148. 1.1 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 363 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40388019&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Miscellaneous - Recovery Company Representative's E-Mail (item 2, .PDF, 630 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40404713&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Miscellaneous%20-%20Recovery%20Company%20Representative%27s%20E-Mail-Redacted.PDF - Photo - View of the right wing. (item 3, .PDF, 57 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40404748&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%20-%20View%20of%20the%20right%20wing.-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. --- 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.