# NTSB FTW00LA159: Air Tractor AT-301, N8594S, Garwood, TX, May 30, 2000 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: May 30, 2000, 17:30 local (22:30 UTC) - Place: Garwood, TX - Coordinates: 29.449924, -96.510055 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.4499&lon=-96.5101&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report November 29, 2000 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 49317 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW00LA159 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/49317/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW00LA159 ## Probable cause The failure of the supercharger seal resulting in the loss of engine power. A 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(total) - mech failure/malf, maneuvering - aerial application - eng assembly,blower/impeller/integral supercharger - failure,total (cause) - Forced landing, emergency descent/landing - terrain condition - none suitable (contributing factor) - terrain condition - berm ## Analysis During the aerial application of fertilizer on a rice field, the 'engine lost power and started blowing smoke.' Oil covered the windshield and portions of the airframe. The pilot dumped the hopper load and initiated a forced landing to the airstrip; however, the airplane impacted terrain approximately 200 feet short of the runway. During the forced landing, the airplane cleared a levee, struck the ground, spun around and came to rest. The operator stated that the supercharger seal failed. ## Factual narrative On May 30, 2000, at 1730 central daylight time, an Air Tractor AT-301 agricultural airplane, N8594S, sustained substantial damage during a forced landing following a loss of engine power near Garwood, Texas. The airplane, owned by a private individual doing business as ANF Air Service, Inc., was operated under 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 137. The commercial pilot, sole occupant, received minor injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the local aerial application flight, and a flight plan was not filed. The flight originated from a private turf airstrip, approximately 30 minutes prior to the accident. The pilot and operator reported that the pilot had flown the airplane approximately 8 flight hours that day with numerous takeoffs and landings from the dirt airstrip near the rice field which the pilot was spraying with fertilizer. During the swath, the "engine lost power and started blowing smoke." The pilot dumped the hopper load and initiated a forced landing to the airstrip; however, the airplane impacted the terrain approximately 200 feet short of the runway. During the forced landing, the airplane cleared a levee, struck the ground, spun around and came to rest upright. The operator and the FAA inspector found the engine separated from the airframe. Structural damage occurred to the horizontal stabilizer. Oil covered the windshield and portions of the airframe. The operator stated that the supercharger seal failed. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N8594S](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8594S-2021-05-08), registration cancelled 2021-05-08, S/N 301-0158, built 1978 (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: 0159 - Engines: P&W R-1340 600 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Aerial application, Part 137 - Operator: Michael Thompson, doing business as Anf Air Service, Inc. - Registered owner: Michael Thompson - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special) - Departed: NONE ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 43; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: center; flight hours: 6,200 total, 2,300 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 180° at 8 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 90 °F ## 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 20000530034009A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20000530034009A), May 30, 2000: Airtrc AT301, Garwood, TX, Substantial damage. (.4)During the aerial application of fertilizer on a rice field, the 'engine lost power and started blowing smoke.' Oil covered the windshield and portions of… ## Other investigations on N8594S (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 FTW84LA274](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW84LA274), Jun 16, 1984: Air Tractor AT301 (N8594S), San Benito, TX, substantial damage 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.