# NTSB CEN13LA375: Air Tractor AT-301, N3168X, Colome, SD, June 26, 2013 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: June 26, 2013, 18:25 local (23:25 UTC) - Place: Colome, SD - Coordinates: 43.376667, -99.858886 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.3767&lon=-99.8589&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Low altitude operation/event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/220) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report February 10, 2014 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA Rapid City FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 87313 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN13LA375 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/87313/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=87313 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN13LA375 ## Probable cause The loss of engine power for reasons that could not be determined because a postaccident engine run revealed no anomalies that would have precluded normal operation. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Not determined](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000): Not determined › Not determined · Unknown/Not determined (probable cause); cases with it: [Air Tractor AT-301, 11 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md?model=0390103), [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: Low altitude operation/event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/220) (defining event); cases with it: [Air Tractor AT-301, 9 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/220/sequence.md?model=0390103), [All aircraft, 780 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/220/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096); cases with it: [Air Tractor AT-301, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md?model=0390103), [All aircraft, 2,287 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that, during the start of his third spray pass, he cleared the telephone wires located at the edge of the field. Once over the field, he immediately noticed the engine power reduce. He attempted to pull back on the control stick to gain altitude, but the airplane's tail and right wing struck the field. During the forced landing roll, the right landing gear collapsed, and the airplane nosed over. No water was found in the fuel system, and the weather conditions were not conducive for carburetor icing. A postaccident engine run was conducted, and no anomalies were observed that would have precluded normal operation. ## Factual narrative On June 26, 2013, about 1825, an Air Tractor AT-301, N3168X, sustained substantial damage during a forced landing to a field near Colome, South Dakota, after a loss of engine power. The commercial pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured. The airplane was registered to and operated by Semper Fi Aviation LLC under the provisions of the 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 137 as an aerial application flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident, and no flight plan was filed. The flight originated from the Winner Regional Airport (ICR), Winner, South Dakota, about 1720. The pilot reported that on the start of his third spray pass, he cleared the telephone wires located on the southwest corner of the field, and entered the field flying 95 knots indicated airspeed. The engine instrument gauges indicated 33 inches of manifold air pressure (MAP) at 2,100 rpm. He stated that he "immediately noticed a reduction in power." He attempted to pull back on the control stick to gain altitude, but the airplane's tail and right wing struck the field. During the forced landing rollout, the right landing gear collapsed and the airplane rolled onto its nose. An airplane and powerplant-rated (A&P) mechanic ran the engine while it was still attached to the airframe. The mechanic ran the engine to 32 inches of MAP at 2,100 rpm, and then pulled the power back to 30 inches of MAP. He was unable to run the engine at full power (36 inches of MAP at 2,200 rpm) due to the vibration from the bent propeller and collapsed landing gear. He reported that the engine ran normally without anomalies. No water was found in the fuel system and the weather conditions were not conducive for carburetor icing. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N3168X](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N3168X-2016-06-17), registration cancelled 2016-06-17, S/N 301-0566, built 1984 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: AIR TRACTOR INC AT-301 - Registry model: [Air Tractor AT-301](https://openairdocs.org/model/air-tractor-at-301) (registry code 0390103) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Pratt & Whitney R1340 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-r1340-series) (registry code 52016, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 301-0566 - Year built: 1984 - Airframe hours: 6898 - Engines: P&W R1340 SERIES 600 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Aerial application, Part 137 - Operator: Semper Fi Aviation LLC - Registered owner: Semper Fi Aviation LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, May 13, 2013 - Departed: ICR, Winner, SD - Destination: Colome, SD - Equipment: Stall warning system ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 47; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review February 17, 2012; seat: single; flight hours: 1,389 total, 1,057 in this make and model, 96 in the last 90 days, 70 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 210° at 9 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 88 °F, dew point 57 °F - Altimeter: 29.78 inHg - Observed at: ABR ## 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 20130626011309A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20130626011309A), Jun 26, 2013: Air Tractor Inc AT-301, Colome, SD, Substantial damage. On June 26, 2013 at 5:20 pm CDT an Air tractor 301 owned by semper fi aviation, LLC contacted the ground while spraying a wheat field. Visual metrological… ## Docket (8 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on December 4, 2013, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=87313. 11.0 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 3.6 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40405434&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Phone Interview with Don Bice (item 2, .PDF, 86 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40405480&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Phone%20Interview%20with%20Don%20Bice-Master.PDF - Aerial Map of Fields in Area of Accident (item 3, .PDF, 1.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40405456&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Aerial%20Map%20of%20Fields%20in%20Area%20of%20Accident-Master.PDF - Service Letter SL-304, CAM 8 (item 4, .PDF, 1.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40405437&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Service%20Letter%20SL-304,%20CAM%208-Master.PDF - Maintenance Records Excerpts (item 5, .PDF, 1.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40405528&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Maintenance%20Records%20Excerpts-Redacted.PDF - Photo 1. View of aircraft laying on its nose. (item 6, .PDF, 1.4 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40405443&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201.%20View%20of%20aircraft%20laying%20on%20its%20nose.-Master.PDF - Photo 2. View of damage to right wing. (item 7, .PDF, 1.7 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40405444&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%202.%20View%20of%20damage%20to%20right%20wing.-Master.PDF - Photo 3. View of propeller. (item 8, .PDF, 486 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40405445&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%203.%20View%20of%20propeller.-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.