# NTSB CEN14LA298: Air Tractor AT-802A, N802PR, Oneida, AR, June 7, 2014 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: June 7, 2014, 10:00 local (15:00 UTC) - Place: Oneida, AR - Coordinates: 34.405277, -90.82611 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.4053&lon=-90.8261&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Fuel exhaustion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report February 23, 2015 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Adminstration; LIT FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 89468 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN14LA298 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/89468/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=89468 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN14LA298 ## Probable cause The pilot’s inadequate fuel management, which resulted in a total loss of engine power at low altitude due to fuel exhaustion and a forced landing in a muddy field and subsequent nose-over. ## 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 · Fluid management (probable cause); cases with it: [Air Tractor AT-802A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md?model=0390308), [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 · Fluid level (probable cause); cases with it: [Air Tractor AT-802A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md?model=0390308), [All aircraft, 1,695 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md) - [Planning/preparation: fuel planning](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Air Tractor AT-802A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030/cases.md?model=0390308), [All aircraft, 719 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: altitude](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Related operating info (probable cause); cases with it: [Air Tractor AT-802A, 14 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012/cases.md?model=0390308), [All aircraft, 1,310 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012/cases.md) - [Terrain](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021000): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome (probable cause); cases with it: [Air Tractor AT-802A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021000/cases.md?model=0390308), [All aircraft, 267 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021000/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: Fuel exhaustion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192) (defining event); cases with it: [Air Tractor AT-802A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192/sequence.md?model=0390308), [All aircraft, 804 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192/sequence.md) - [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341); cases with it: [Air Tractor AT-802A, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=0390308), [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md) - [Landing: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440); cases with it: [Air Tractor AT-802A, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=0390308), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Air Tractor AT-802A, 27 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=0390308), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that, before the accident flight, the left fuel gauge indicated between empty and 1/4 full and that the right fuel gauge indicated a "little over" a 1/4 full. After taking off and conducting a few aerial application passes, the airplane experienced a total loss of engine power. Due to the low altitude at the time of the power loss, the pilot chose to perform a forced landing on a field. During the landing roll, the airplane entered a muddy area and then nosed over. During postaccident recovery of the airplane, about 1 1/2 gallons of fuel was drained from the airplane. No evidence of fuel spillage was found at the accident site. ## Factual narrative On June 7, 2014, at 1000 central daylight time, an Air Tractor Inc. AT-802A, N802PR, experienced a total loss of engine power while returning from an aerial application of a field near Oneida, Arkansas. The airplane nosed-over during a forced landing and sustained substantial damage. The pilot was uninjured. The airplane was registered to A & L Farm Services Inc and operated by 4R Aviation LLC under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 137 as an aerial application flight that was not operating on a flight plan. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The flight was returning to Oneida, Arkansas. The pilot stated that he landed at a remote airstrip near Oneida, Arkansas, where the airplane was loaded with an "undetermined amount of fuel" and urea fertilizer. After the airplane was loaded with fuel and fertilizer, the left fuel gauge indicated between empty and ¼ full and the right fuel gauge indicated a "little over" a ¼ full. The flight then departed to a rice field, where the pilot flew a few passes applying the fertilizer on a rice field. During the last pass over the field, the engine "momentarily" lost power at the beginning and at the end of the field. He dumped the remained fertilizer on a corn field that was east of the rice field and began a return to the airstrip. The airplane then lost engine power about ½-3/4 mile from the airstrip. The pilot then turned on the fuel boost pump, but the engine did not regain power. He then determined that the airplane did not have enough airspeed and altitude to attain a landing on the airstrip so he performed a forced landing on a wheat field where the airplane made a three point landing and rolled into the muddy part of the field where it nosed over. During post-accident recovery of the airplane, about 1 ½ gallons of fuel was drained from the airplane. There was no evidence of fuel spillage at the accident site. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N802PR](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N802PR), registered now, S/N 802A-0533, built 2013 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: AIR TRACTOR INC AT-802A - Registry model: [Air Tractor AT-802A](https://openairdocs.org/model/air-tractor-at-802a) (registry code 0390308) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-67AG](https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-canada-pt6a-67ag) (registry code 52211, turbo-prop) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 802A-0533 - Year built: 2013 - Airframe hours: 182 - Engines: Pratt&Whitney PT6A-67AG 1350 horsepower turbo prop - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Aerial application, Part 137 - Operator: 4R Aviation, LLC - Registered owner: A & L Farm Services, Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special) - Departed: Oneida, AR - Destination: Oneida, AR - Equipment: Stall warning system ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 43; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review February 27, 2014; seat: center; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 13,700 total, 4,000 in this make and model, 13,500 as pilot in command, 250 in the last 90 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 160° at 8 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 82 °F, dew point 77 °F - Altimeter: 29.94 inHg - Observed at: CKM, 18 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 20140607008409A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20140607008409A), Jun 7, 2014: Air Tractor Inc AT-802A, Oneida, AR, Substantial damage. On June 7, 2014, at 1000 CDT, an Air tractor AT-802A, N802PR, registered to a & l farm services, inc., lost engine power requiring to land in a wheat field.… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on January 12, 2015, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=89468. 3.0 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 2.9 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40420847&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Record of Conversation - FAA (item 2, .PDF, 52 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40420848&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation%20-%20FAA-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.