# NTSB DEN03LA077: Air Tractor AT-502, N318BR, Sedan, NM, April 24, 2003 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: April 24, 2003, 09:30 local (15:30 UTC) - Place: Sedan, NM - Coordinates: 36.118057, -103.064445 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.1181&lon=-103.0644&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report March 30, 2004 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Albuquerque FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 56945 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN03LA077 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/56945/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN03LA077 ## Probable cause the nonmechanical partial loss of engine power due to water contamination of the fuel. Contributing factors include the lack of suitable terrain for a forced landing (due to his low altitude), and the irrigation system (object) that was impacted. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(partial) - nonmechanical, descent - normal - fluid,fuel - contamination,water (cause) - Forced landing, descent - emergency - emergency procedure - attempted, pilot in command - On ground/water collision with object, descent - emergency - terrain condition - none suitable (contributing factor) - low altitude flight/maneuver - intentional, pilot in command (contributing factor) - object - other (contributing factor) ## Analysis The pilot said the airplane refueling process took a very long time, due to the slow rate of fuel transfer. He drained 2 to 3 gallons of fuel from each tank to check for contamination. While descending from 1,200 feet to 150 feet agl, he looked down at a map on his lap to verify which field was to be sprayed. The pilot said the engine began losing power, dropping from 80 pounds of torque to 40 pounds of torque. He noticed the loss of power when he attempted to level off, and the airplane was near a stall. He dumped the chemical, and pushed the power lever full forward, with no increase in power noted. The pilot performed a forced landing straight ahead due to his low altitude, and impacted a rotating irrigation system in a wheat field. The airplane was substantially damaged. Postimpact examination revealed water in the fuel filters on the airplane's engine and on the refueling system. Water was also found in the airplane's right fuel tank and in the source fuel tank. ## Factual narrative On April 24, 2003, at approximately 0930 mountain daylight time, an Air Tractor AT-502, N318BR, was substantially damaged when it collided with an irrigation system during a forced landing near Sedan, New Mexico. The commercial pilot received minor injuries. The airplane was being operated by Riddell Flying Service Inc., of West Helena, Arkansas, under the provisions of Title 14 CFR Part 137. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the local aerial application flight that originated from a private airstrip near Dalhart, Texas, at approximately 0910. No flight plan had been filed. Prior to departure, the airplane was serviced with fuel and chemicals. The pilot reported that after "about one hour and forty-five minutes [a very slow fuel transfer rate]" both fuel tanks were filled to capacity. He said the fuel was "flowing extremely slow." The pilot stated he drained 2 to 3 gallons of fuel out of each tank to check for contamination before departing. While descending from 1,200 feet to 150 feet agl, the pilot looked down at a map on his lap to verify which field was supposed to be sprayed. The pilot said the engine (a Walther STC conversion) began losing power, dropping from 80 pounds of torque to 40 pounds of torque. He noticed the loss of power when he attempted to level off, and the airplane was near a stall. He dumped the chemicals, and pushed the power lever full forward, with no increase in power noted. The pilot performed a forced landing straight ahead due to his low altitude, and impacted a rotating irrigation system in a wheat field. The top of the hopper was crushed, and the canopy and its supporting structure were destroyed. The pilot received facial cuts, shoulder abrasions, and a broken thumb. Postimpact examination revealed water in the engine fuel filters and in the refueling system. An examination of the airplane systems revealed no anomalies. A few days after the accident, the manager of Air Service went to pump off the Jet A from the fuel tanks in the airplane, and he found approximately 6 ounces of water in the right fuel tank. He also checked the tank that the airplane was fueled from, and he found approximately 5 inches of water in that tank. The engine was test run at the operators facilities in Helena, Arkansas, and no abnormalities were noted. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N318BR](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N318BR-2004-02-24), registration cancelled 2004-02-24, S/N 502-0172, built 1992 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Air Tractor AT-502 - Registry model: [Air Tractor AT-502](https://openairdocs.org/model/air-tractor-at-502) (registry code 0390303) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Pratt & Whitney PT6A series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-pt6a-series) (registry code 52032, turbo-prop) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 502-0172 - Airframe hours: 4556 - Engines: Walther 680 horsepower turbo prop - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Aerial application, Part 137 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, January 2, 2003 - Departed: NONE, Dalhart, TX ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 49; injuries: minor; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review January 10, 2003; seat: single; flight hours: 7,253 total, 275 in this make and model, 15 in the last 90 days, 5 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 260° at 7 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 48 °F, dew point 34 °F - Altimeter: 29.65 inHg - Observed at: DHT, 30 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 20030424009619A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20030424009619A), Apr 24, 2003: Airtrc AT502, Sedan, NM, Substantial damage. (-23) On April 24, 2003, at 0828 MDT, a walters powered air tractor 502, N318BR, registered to riddell flying service, inc of west helena, AR, lost power while… 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.