# NTSB DEN93LA081: Air Tractor AT-401, N1009T, Dermott, AR, July 15, 1993 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 15, 1993, 15:00 local (20:00 UTC) - Place: Dermott, AR - Location: 33.5262° N, 91.4323° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Dermott, AR, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.5262&lon=-91.4323&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report September 13, 1994 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 11096 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN93LA081 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/11096/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN93LA081 ## Probable cause POWER LOSS DUE TO THE TOTAL FAILURE OF THE ENGINE'S MASTER ROD. FACTORS WERE AN IMPROPER ENGINE OVERHAUL AND THE LACK OF SUITABLE TERRAIN FOR A FORCED LANDING. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(total) - mech failure/malf, maneuvering - engine assembly,master rod - failure,total (cause) - maintenance,overhaul - improper, other maintenance personnel (contributing factor) - Forced landing, descent - emergency - Nose over, landing - flare/touchdown - terrain condition - none suitable (contributing factor) - terrain condition - soft ## Analysis THE PILOT HAD JUST FINISHED APPLYING FERTILIZER TO A RICE FIELD AND WAS BANKING TO RETURN TO HIS AIRSTRIP WHEN THE ENGINE SUDDENLY LOST POWER. A FORCED LANDING WAS MADE TO A FLOODED RICE FIELD. WHEN THE WHEELS TOUCHED, THE AIRPLANE SANK INTO THE WATER AND SOFT GROUND AND NOSED OVER. POST-ACCIDENT ENGINE DISASSEMBLY REVEALED EVIDENCE OF A PRE-EXISTING CRACK AND SUBSEQUENT TOTAL FAILURE OF THE MASTER ROD. AN ENGINE OVERHAUL WAS COMPLETED TWO WEEKS PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT. ## Factual narrative On July 15, 1993, at approximately 1500 central daylight time, the pilot of an Air Tractor AT-401, N1009T, made a forced landing in a rice field approximately 4 miles north of Dermott, Arkansas. There were no injuries to the pilot, but the airplane was substantially damaged. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time, and no flight plan was filed for the aerial application flight. The following is based on the pilot's accident report. The pilot had been applying fertilizer to a rice field. He banked the airplane to return to his airstrip when the engine lost power and he was forced to land in a rice field which had been flooded. When the wheels touched the ground, the airplane sank in the water and soft ground and overturned. According to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector who supervised the engine inspection and disassembly, there was evidence that the master rod had failed. He also found evidence of a pre-existing crack. The nature of the crack could not be determined. A review of the airplane's maintenance records disclosed the following pertinent entries: August 18, 1989 - ENGINE MAJOR OVERHAUL Tachometer - 557.0 hours Engine Total Time - 8 ,798 hours Remarks - Chrome cylinders installed. February 5, 1990 - 100-HOUR/ANNUAL INSPECTION Tachometer - 663.2 hours Engine Total Time - 8,904.2 hours Remarks - Oil drained from engine crankcase and rocker sumps. No metal contamination. Tachometer replaced. July 27, 1990 - NO. 9 CYLINDER REPLACED WITH OVERHAULED CYLINDER. Tachometer - 493.0 hours Engine Total Time - 9397.2 hours Remarks - Tachometer replaced. December 10, 1990 - ENGINE REMOVED FOR OVERHAUL Tachometer - 38.0 hours Engine Total Time - 9579.2 hours July 1, 1993 - ENGINE INSTALLED ON N1009T Tachometer - 0.0 hours Engine Total Time - 9579.2 hours ## Aircraft - Registration: [N1009T](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N1009T-2006-12-08), registration cancelled 2006-12-08, S/N 401-0707, built 1989 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: AIR TRACTOR AT-401 - Registry model: [Air Tractor AT-401](https://openairdocs.org/model/air-tractor-at-401) (registry code 0390204) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Pratt & Whitney R1340 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-r1340-series) (registry code 52016, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 401-0707 - Airframe hours: 2639 - Engines: P&W R-1340-AN1 600 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Aerial application, Part 137 - Registered owner: Demailly, Christian J.F. - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Limited (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, September 11, 1992, 50 hours before - Departed: NONE, MCGEHEE, AR ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 45; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: front; flight hours: 11,794 total, 2,964 in this make and model, 11,630 as pilot in command, 273 in the last 90 days, 120 in the last 30 days, 6 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 280° at 7 knots - Visibility: 7 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 3,500 ft broken - Temperature: 97 °F, dew point 72 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: PBF, 49 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 19930715024179A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19930715024179A), Jul 15, 1993: Airtrc AT401, Dermott, AR, Substantial damage. Lost power after last spray run. Landed flooded rice field. Nosed over. Master rod failure. Precrack.recent overhaul ## Other investigations on N1009T (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 SEA98LA080](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA98LA080), May 20, 1998: Air Tractor AT-401 (N1009T), Idaho Falls, ID, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from a power transmission line during an aerial application flight. Factors include a power line located just beyond the boundary of the field being sprayed,… 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.