# NTSB CEN20LA287: Air Tractor AT 602, N8506E, Des Arc, AR, July 3, 2020 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report - Date: July 3, 2020, 08:30 local (13:30 UTC) - Place: Des Arc, AR - Coordinates: 34.976112, -91.456947 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.9761&lon=-91.4569&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Unknown or undetermined](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/000) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 3 - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 101616 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN20LA287 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/101616/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=101616 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN20LA287 ## Probable cause A total loss of engine power for reasons that could not be determined from all available evidence. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Engine (turbine/turboprop)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057200): Aircraft › Aircraft power plant · Unknown/Not determined (probable cause); cases with it: [Air Tractor AT-602, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057200/cases.md?model=0390309), [All aircraft, 67 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057200/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: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341); cases with it: [Air Tractor AT-602, 11 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=0390309), [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md) - [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Unknown or undetermined](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/000) (defining event); cases with it: [Air Tractor AT-602, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/000/sequence.md?model=0390309), [All aircraft, 1,703 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/000/sequence.md) ## Analysis 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. ## Factual narrative 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. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N8506E](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8506E-2022-12-02), registration cancelled 2022-12-02, S/N 602-0657, built 2002 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Air Tractor AT 602 (No Series) - Registry model: [Air Tractor AT-602](https://openairdocs.org/model/air-tractor-at-602) (registry code 0390309) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6-60A](https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-canada-pt6-60a) (registry code 52170, turbo-prop) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 602-0657 - Year built: 2002 - Airframe hours: 6493 - Engines: Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-60AG 1050 horsepower turbo prop - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Aerial application, Part 137 - Operator: Bell's Ag Service Inc - Registered owner: Bell's Ag Service Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility - Last inspection: 100 hour, June 30, 2020, 69 hours before ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 60; injuries: serious; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, unknown; seat: single; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 27,925 total, 4,000 in this make and model, 150 in the last 90 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 310° at 4 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 79 °F, dew point 73 °F - Altimeter: 30.01 inHg - Observed at: SGT, 22 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 20200703011369A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20200703011369A), Jul 3, 2020: Air Tractor Inc AT-602, Des Arc, AR, Substantial damage. On July 3, 2020 at approximately 0830CDT, N8506E an Air tractor AT-602 registered to bell?s ag service, inc and operated by a commercial rated pilot,… ## Docket (5 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on April 26, 2023, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=101616. 5.0 MB in all. - Record of conversation FAA (item 1, PDF, 2 pages, 93 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15303780&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=ROC%20FAA-Rel.pdf - Pratt & whitney Canada component examination summary (item 2, PDF, 2 pages, 67 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15301000&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=PWC%20Component%20Examination%20(002)-Rel.pdf - Photo (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 1 photo, 643 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15079681&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=cen20la287%20photo-Rel.pdf - Log book entries (item 4, PDF, 19 pages, 3.8 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15080205&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Log%20Book%20Entries_Redacted%20reduced-Rel.pdf - Pilot statement (item 5, PDF, 1 page, 330 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15080671&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Pilot%20Statement-Rel.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.