# NTSB CHI02CA224: Air Tractor AT-301, N2326S, Malta, IL, July 26, 2002 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: July 26, 2002, 08:30 local (13:30 UTC) - Place: Malta, IL - Coordinates: 41.983333, -88.900001 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.9833&lon=-88.9000&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report September 9, 2002 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA-DuPage FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 55352 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI02CA224 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/55352/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=55352 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI02CA224 ## Probable cause The probable cause of this accident was fuel exhaustion, due to a failure to properly compute initial fuel quantity and/or fuel consumption. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power, maneuvering - aerial application - fuel consumption calculations - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - fluid,fuel - exhaustion (cause) - Forced landing, emergency descent/landing - In flight collision with object, emergency landing - In flight collision with terrain/water, emergency landing ## Analysis On July 26, 2002, at approximately 0930 central daylight time, an Air Tractor AT-301, N2326S, piloted by a commercial pilot, was substantially damaged during a forced landing following a loss of engine power. The airplane was engaged in agricultural application work under 14 CFR Part 137 at the time of the accident. The airplane departed at 0800 cdt from runway 18 (2,800 feet x 80 feet, turf) at the Hendrickson Flying Service Airport (IL93), Creston, Illinois. Hendrickson is a private airport located ten (10) miles west of Dekalb Taylor Municipal Airport (DKB). The accident occurred approximately two (2) miles northeast of Hendrickson Flying Service Airport. The flight intended to return to Hendrickson following completion of its agricultural application work. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The pilot sustained minor injuries. ## Factual narrative On July 26, 2002, at approximately 0930 central daylight time, an Air Tractor AT-301, N2326S, piloted by a commercial pilot, was substantially damaged during a forced landing following a loss of engine power. The airplane was engaged in agricultural application work under 14 CFR Part 137 at the time of the accident. The airplane departed at 0800 cdt from runway 18 (2,800 feet x 80 feet, turf) at the Hendrickson Flying Service Airport (IL93), Creston, Illinois. Hendrickson is a private airport located ten (10) miles west of Dekalb Taylor Municipal Airport (DKB). The accident occurred approximately two (2) miles northeast of Hendrickson Flying Service Airport. The flight intended to return to Hendrickson following completion of its agricultural application work. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The pilot sustained minor injuries. The pilot stated: "I took off at 8:00am from Hendrickson Flying Service strip with a load of spray material. . . . After spraying 3 fields I headed back to HFS, 4 miles NE of HFS low fuel psi light came on and no fuel psi on gauge, engine quit. I had been ferrying at 600 ft agl and had already started reducing manifold pressure for descent. When engine quit I had no where to go but in field corn at 9:30am." Examination of the aircraft after the accident revealed no evidence of fuel in the tanks. The fuel pump inlet hose and carburetor fuel line were removed. No evidence of fuel was found in the fuel pump hose. A small amount of fuel was found in the carburetor fuel line. The pilot holds a commercial pilot certificate with an airplane -- single-engine land rating. His second class medical certificate was issued on March 12, 2002. He has accumulated 2,362 hours total time, of which 338 hours are in the same make and model as the accident aircraft. He reported flying 238 hours in the last 90 days. The Air Tractor AT-301, S/N 301-0381, involved in the accident had accumulated 7,960 hours total time. An annual inspection was completed on June 12, 2002, and had been flown 83 hours since then. The Pratt & Whitney R-1340 series engine installed had accumulated 1,041 hours since overhaul. The pilot did not report any malfunctions or failures with the airplane or engine either prior to, or at the time of, the accident. Weather conditions at the scene were reported by the pilot as 1,500 agl overcast, with three (3) miles visibility, and south-west winds at five (5) knots. The Dekalb Taylor Municipal Airport (DKB) AWOS, located eight (8) miles east-southeast of the accident site, at 0924 cdt, reported conditions as clear, seven (7) miles visibility in haze, and winds from 240 degrees at four (4) knots. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N2326S](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N2326S-2005-09-27), registration cancelled 2005-09-27, S/N 301-0381, built 1981 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Air Tractor AT-301 - Registry model: [Air Tractor AT-301](https://openairdocs.org/model/air-tractor-at-301) (registry code 0390103) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Pratt & Whitney R1340 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-r1340-series) (registry code 52016, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 301-0381 - Airframe hours: 7960.7 - Engines: Pratt & Whitney R1340-S3N1G 600 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Aerial application, Part 137 - Operator: Hendrickson Flying Service Inc., doing business as Hendrickson Flying Service Inc. - Registered owner: Hendrickson Flying Service Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, June 12, 2002, 83.2 hours before - Departed: IL93, Creston, IL - Airport: IL93, Hendrickson Flying Service, runway 18, 2,800 × 80 ft, grass/turf ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 40; injuries: minor; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review January 2, 2002; seat: single; flight hours: 2,362 total, 338 in this make and model, 2,227 as pilot in command, 238 in the last 90 days, 83 in the last 30 days, 10 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 240° at 4 knots - Visibility: 7 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 79 °F, dew point 68 °F - Altimeter: 29.88 inHg - Observed at: DKB, 8 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 20020726035619A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20020726035619A), Jul 26, 2002: Airtrc AT301, Malta, IS, Destroyed. (-23) After agricultural operation was completed engine quit and aircraft landed in a cornfield. ## Other investigations on N2326S (1) 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. - [NTSB FTW82DA101](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW82DA101), Mar 22, 1982: Snow AT-301 (N2326S), Spearman, TX, substantial damage ## Docket (1 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 16, 2002, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=55352. 358 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 358 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40463874&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-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.