# NTSB CEN13LA568: Air Tractor AT 802, N9119B, Gould, AR, August 28, 2013 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 28, 2013, 07:45 local (12:45 UTC) - Place: Gould, AR - Coordinates: 33.986946, -91.559722 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.9869&lon=-91.5597&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Takeoff: 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 - NTSB case key (mKey): 88161 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN13LA568 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/88161/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=88161 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN13LA568 ## Probable cause The failure of a bearing in the fuel control unit, which resulted in fuel starvation and a total loss of engine power. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Engine fuel and control: fuel control/carburetor](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057322): Aircraft › Aircraft power plant · Failure (probable cause); cases with it: [Air Tractor AT-802, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057322/cases.md?model=0390305), [All aircraft, 195 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057322/cases.md) - [Fluids: fuel](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010): Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware · Not specified (probable cause); cases with it: [Air Tractor AT-802, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md?model=0390305), [All aircraft, 1,695 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Takeoff: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) (defining event); cases with it: [Air Tractor AT-802, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=0390305), [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md) - [Landing: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Air Tractor AT-802, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=0390305), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis A total loss of airplane engine power occurred shortly after the pilot took off for the aerial application flight. The pilot made a forced landing in a corn field, which resulted in substantial damage to the left wing. A postaccident examination of the engine revealed a bearing inside the fuel control unit had failed, which resulted in the loss of engine power due to fuel starvation. The fuel control unit was overhauled 928 hours before the accident. The manufacturer's recommended time between overhauls for the fuel control unit is 3,500 hours. ## Factual narrative On August 28, 2013, at 0745 central daylight time, an Air Tractor AT-802 airplane, N9119B, collided with the terrain following a loss of engine power on takeoff from a private airstrip in Gould, Arkansas. The commercial pilot was not injured. The airplane received substantial damage to the airframe. The airplane was registered to and operated by Triple J Flying Service as a 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 137 aerial application flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the flight, which was not operating on a flight plan. The local flight originated from a private airstrip in Gould, Arkansas, just prior to the accident. The pilot stated that he departed his private airstrip and climbed to an altitude of 100 feet above ground level at which time the engine lost power. He attempted to restart the engine, but was not able to regain any power. The pilot landed the airplane in a corn field. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing. A postaccident examination of the engine revealed a bearing inside the fuel control unit, part number 8063-032-01, had failed resulting in fuel starvation to the engine. The fuel control unit was installed on the engine on January 11, 2011 and was last overhauled 928 hours prior to the accident. According to the overhaul facility, the manufacturers recommended time between overhaul for the fuel control unit is 3,500 hours. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N9119B](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N9119B), registered now, S/N 802-0100, built 2000 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: AIR TRACTOR INC AT 802 - Registry model: [Air Tractor AT-802](https://openairdocs.org/model/air-tractor-at-802) (registry code 0390305) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Pratt & Whitney PT6A series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-pt6a-series) (registry code 52034, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 802-0100 - Year built: 2000 - Airframe hours: 4594 - Engines: Pratt & Whitney PT6-65AG 1295 horsepower turbo prop - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Aerial application, Part 137 - Operator: Triple J Flying Service - Registered owner: Triple J Flying Service - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special) - Last inspection: 100 hour, August 20, 2013 - Departed: Gould, AR - Destination: Gould, AR ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 34; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review October 2, 2012; seat: center; flight hours: 9,294.2 total, 600 in this make and model, 600 in the last 90 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 40° at 3 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 68 °F, dew point 64 °F - Altimeter: 30.07 inHg - Observed at: PBF, 25 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 20130828016219A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20130828016219A), Aug 28, 2013: Air Tractor Inc AT-802, Gould, AR, Substantial damage. On August 28, 2013, at 0740 CDT, an Air tractor, AT-802, N9119B, registered to Triple j flying service, inc, experienced a forced landing due to loss of power… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on December 16, 2013, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=88161. 1.1 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 953 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40406218&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Fuel Control Inspection Report (item 2, .PDF, 129 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40406217&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Fuel%20Control%20Inspection%20Report-Master.PDF - Record of Conversation (item 3, .PDF, 25 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40406222&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation-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.