# NTSB DFW06CA146: Air Tractor AT-802, N175LA, Tuckerman, AR, May 29, 2006

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: May 29, 2006, 17:30 local (22:30 UTC)
- Place: Tuckerman, AR
- Coordinates: 35.806388, -91.153335
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.8064&lon=-91.1533&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report October 3, 2006
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Parties: FSDO, Oklahoma City, OK
- NTSB case key (mKey): 63802
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DFW06CA146
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/63802/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DFW06CA146

## Probable cause

The loss of engine power due to water contamination in the fuel.  A contributing factor was the lack of suitable terrain for the forced landing.

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Loss of engine power, climb - to cruise
  - fuel system,tank - contamination,water (cause)
- Forced landing, emergency descent/landing
- On ground/water collision with object, emergency landing
  - terrain condition - none suitable (contributing factor)

## Analysis

The 13,000-hour commercial pilot departed from a private airstrip for an aerial application flight.  Approximately, 3 miles from the airstrip the 1,350 horsepower engine lost power and the pilot elected to execute a forced landing in a rice field.  The pilot stated that he was "forced" to make the emergency landing in the rice field because of the "low altitude" he was at when the engine lost power.  During the forced landing, the airplane received structural damage.  The operator reported that he found "a substantial amount" of water in the airplane's header tank.

## Factual narrative

The 13,000-hour commercial pilot departed from a private airstrip for an aerial application flight.  Approximately, 3 miles from the airstrip the 1,350 horsepower engine lost power and the pilot elected to execute a forced landing in a rice field.  The pilot stated that he was "forced" to make the emergency landing in the rice field because of the "low altitude" he was at when the engine lost power.  During the forced landing, the airplane received structural damage.  The operator reported that he found "a substantial amount" of water in the airplane's header tank.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N175LA](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N175LA), registered now, S/N 802A-0175, built 2004 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Air Tractor AT-802
- Registry model: [Air Tractor AT-802A](https://openairdocs.org/model/air-tractor-at-802a) (registry code 0390308) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Pratt & Whitney PT6A series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-pt6a-series) (registry code 52034, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 802A-0175
- Airframe hours: 1128.1
- Engines: Pratt & Whitney PT6A 1350 lbs thrust turbo prop
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Aerial application, Part 137
- Registered owner: Farm Air Corp
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special)
- Last inspection: 100 hour, May 1, 2006
- Departed: Tuckerman, AR
- Destination: Tuckerman, AR

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 48; injuries: minor; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review January 1, 2006; seat: single; flight hours: 13,000 total, 4,402 in this make and model, 12,000 as pilot in command

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 200° at 20 knots
- Lowest ceiling: none

## 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 20060529013339A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20060529013339A), May 29, 2006: Airtrc AT802A, Tuckerman, AR, Substantial damage. (-23) On may 29, 2006, at 1730 central daylight time, an air tractor AT802A agriculture airplane N175LA, received substantial damage during takeoff when the…

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.

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