# NTSB CEN19LA334: Air Tractor AT802, N801BF, Columbus, MS, September 27, 2019 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report - Date: September 27, 2019, 10:45 local (14:45 UTC) - Place: Columbus, MS - Coordinates: 33.443332, -88.508888 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.4433&lon=-88.5089&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Miscellaneous/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 3 - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA, Air Tractor - NTSB case key (mKey): 100341 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN19LA334 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/100341/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=100341 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN19LA334 ## Probable cause A total loss of engine power control for undetermined reasons. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Engine controls](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057600): Aircraft › Aircraft power plant · Not specified (probable cause); cases with it: [Air Tractor AT-802A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057600/cases.md?model=0390308), [All aircraft, 51 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057600/cases.md) - [Not determined](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000): Not determined › Not determined · Unknown/Not determined (probable cause); cases with it: [Air Tractor AT-802A, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md?model=0390308), [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: Miscellaneous/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900) (defining event); cases with it: [Air Tractor AT-802A, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900/sequence.md?model=0390308), [All aircraft, 1,556 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900/sequence.md) - [Emergency descent: 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 According to the pilot, during a chemical application pass over a field, he saw that the engine torque "had crept up." He attempted to reduce engine torque but noticed that the power lever "felt stuck." Shortly thereafter, he again tried to move the power lever. When it would not move, he increased pressure and it "broke free." The engine power decreased to idle, and the pilot's subsequent power lever inputs had no effect. The pilot then performed a forced landing, during which the left wing impacted a tree and the airplane cartwheeled before coming to rest upright on its landing gear, resulting in substantial damage to the wings, fuselage, and empennage. A postaccident examination of the airframe and engine revealed no mechanical malfunctions or anomalies that would have precluded normal operation. Due to the severity of the damage to the forward section of the airplane, the cause for the momentary binding and subsequent loss of engine power control could not be established. ## Factual narrative On September 27, 2019, about 1045 eastern daylight time, an Air Tractor AT802 airplane, N801BF, sustained substantial damage during an impact with terrain following a partial loss of engine power near Columbus, Mississippi. The airplane was registered to and operated by Brignac Flying Service as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 137 aerial application flight. The commercial pilot sustained serious injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan had been filed. According to the pilot, during a chemical application pass over a field from north to south, he noticed the engine torque "had crept up." As he departed the field to the south, he attempted to reduce engine torque, but noticed the power lever "felt stuck." Since there was more room on the north end of the field to maneuver, he left the power lever where it was and re-entered the field. Following the subsequent pass from south to north, he pulled up and again tried to move the power lever. When it would not move, he increased pressure and it "broke free." The engine then went uncommanded to idle power. He attempted to increase the power but moving the power lever had no effect on the engine. During the forced landing, the left wing impacted a tree and the airplane cartwheeled prior to coming to rest on its landing gear, upright. The airplane sustained substantial damage to both wings, the fuselage, and tail section. A post-accident examination of the airframe and engine found no mechanical malfunctions or anomalies that would have precluded normal operation. The engine was disassembled and contained signatures consistent with a low power setting. Engine control continuity was established from the cockpit to the engine with no binding. During the examination of the fuel control unit, the power lever and condition lever shaft could not be easily moved by hand as a result of damage sustained during the impact. The fuel control unit was disassembled; however, the cause of the binding was not found. No anomalies were observed. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N801BF](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N801BF-2022-01-07), registration cancelled 2022-01-07, S/N 802A-0727, built 2017 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Air Tractor AT802 (A) - Registry model: [Air Tractor AT-802A](https://openairdocs.org/model/air-tractor-at-802a) (registry code 0390308) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-65AG](https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-canada-pt6a-65ag) (registry code 52109, turbo-prop) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 802A-0727 - Year built: 2017 - Airframe hours: 1089 - Engines: Pratt & Whitney PT6A-65AG turbo prop - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Aerial application, Part 137 - Operator: Brignac Flying Service Llc - Registered owner: Brignac Flying Service Llc - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special) - Last inspection: 100 hour, August 7, 2019 - Departed: GTR, Columbus/W Point/Starkville, MS - Destination: Columbus, MS - Flight plan: VFR - Equipment: None ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 58; injuries: serious; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; seat: single; flight hours: 25,000 total, 50 in this make and model, 25,000 as pilot in command, 300 in the last 90 days, 120 in the last 30 days, 10 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 140° at 11 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 2,100 ft broken - Temperature: 73 °F, dew point 66 °F - Altimeter: 30.09 inHg - Observed at: KGTR, 9 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 20190927018319A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20190927018319A), Sep 27, 2019: Air Tractor Inc AT-802A, Columbus, MS, Substantial damage. Pilot indicated that he moved the power lever to reset torque. Engine power fell to idle. Attempted landing in a pasture. ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 22, 2020, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=100341. 6.0 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 3.4 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40484655&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Photos (item 2, .PDF, 2.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40484656&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photos-Master.PDF - Photos (item 3, .PDF, 404 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40484657&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photos-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.