CEN20LA287

While the pilot was conducting an aerial survey of a field, the airplane’s engine lost total power, and the pilot performed a forced landing to a field. During the landing, the airplane touched down in a slip, which caused the right main landing gear to collapse and substantial damage to the left wing. Fuel was found in the fuel tanks. Postaccident examination of the engine and fuel system components revealed no anomalies that would have resulted in a loss of engine power. Thus, the reasons that the airplane lost total engine power during the accident flight could not be determined based on the evidence available for this investigation.

On July 3, 2020, about 0830 central daylight time, an Air Tractor AT-602 airplane, N8506E, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Des Arc, Arkansas. The pilot was not injured. The airplane was operated under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 137 as an aerial application flight. According to the pilot, after completing the aerial application, he flew to survey another field. During the second turn over the field, the engine lost total power. The pilot selected another field to perform a forced landing and had to slip the airplane so that it would not overrun the field. As the airplane approached the ground, inadequate airspeed remained to straighten the airplane. The airplane touched down in a slip, which caused the right main landing gear to collapse and substantial damage to the left wing. Postaccident examination of the engine revealed no preimpact anomalies that would have precluded normal operation of the airplane. Fuel was found in the fuel tanks. The engine’s fuel control unit, fuel pump, and oil to fuel heater were sent to Pratt & Whitney Canada (the engine manufacturer) to be examined and bench tested; no anomalies were detected that could have caused or contributed to a loss of engine power.