# NTSB FTW00LA250: Cessna 188B, N21635, Farwell, TX, September 6, 2000 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: September 6, 2000, 14:15 local (19:15 UTC) - Place: Farwell, TX - Coordinates: 34.819438, -102.389961 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.8194&lon=-102.3900&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report April 19, 2001 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 51143 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW00LA250 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/51143/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW00LA250 ## Probable cause The loss of engine power for undetermined reasons. Factors were the smoke in the cockpit, and 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). - Fire, maneuvering - aerial application - misc eqpt/furnishings,smoke generating equipment - burned - fuselage,crew compartment - smoke (contributing factor) - Loss of engine power, maneuvering - aerial application - reason for occurrence undetermined (cause) - Forced landing, emergency descent/landing - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, emergency landing - terrain condition - none suitable (contributing factor) - terrain condition - crop - terrain condition - rough/uneven ## Analysis The pilot, flying an agricultural airplane at low altitude, and utilizing smoke generating equipment for marking swath runs, had completed spraying about two-thirds of a cornfield when he 'felt heat', and smoke 'filled' the cockpit. At the same time, the engine 'quit' producing power. The pilot then executed a forced landing to a rough/uneven, crop field. The pilot stated that the elapsed time from when he first felt heat, to ground impact, was about 2-3 seconds. There was no evidence of a sustained fire in the wreckage, however, the feeder tube, which supplies oil to the smoke generator, was found to be burned adjacent to the outside of the right exhaust stack. The smoke generator kit, which had an FAA approved Supplemental Type Certificate, had been operated prior to the accident with no reported problems. Examination of the engine did not reveal the reason for the reported loss of power. ## Factual narrative On September 6, 2000, approximately 1415 central daylight time, a Cessna 188B single-engine agricultural airplane, N21635, was substantially damaged during a forced landing following a reported loss of engine power while maneuvering in the vicinity of Farwell, Texas. The airplane was registered to and operated by Rhodes Crop Care Inc., of Bovina, Texas. The commercial pilot sustained minor injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and a flight plan was not filed for the 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 137 aerial application flight. The flight originated from a private agricultural airstrip near Bovina, Texas, at 1328. The pilot reported on NTSB Form 6120.1/2, that he had completed spraying about two-thirds of a cornfield when he pulled up and entered a downwind to re-enter the field. He then "felt heat", and smoke "filled" the cockpit. He stated that the smoke smelled like a "hot iron." At the same time, the engine "quit" producing power. The pilot turned into the wind, lowered the flaps and impacted the ground, which was a rough/uneven, crop field. He observed what appeared to be a "large flame" coming from the right side of the cowling, and then exited the aircraft. He estimated that the time elapsed from when he first smelled the smoke, to ground impact, was about 2-3 seconds. The pilot was utilizing smoke generating equipment to mark his swath runs. Examination of the accident site by an FAA inspector and the operator did not reveal evidence of an on-ground fire (It was noted that the crop field was very dry). There was no evidence of a sustained fire in the wreckage; however, the feeder tube, which supplies oil to the smoke generator, was found to be burned adjacent to the outside of the right exhaust stack. Both wings were structurally damaged, both main landing gear were torn loose, and the empennage was buckled. Examination of the engine by the FAA inspector and the operator, did not disclose any anomalies that would have caused the reported loss of power. Work order number 910958, dated September 15, 2000, which was found in the maintenance records, showed that an alternator bracket, engine lord mounts, and exhaust stacks were installed 12 hours prior to the accident flight. The work required the engine to be removed and replaced on the airframe. The airplane was returned to service, and flew 12 hours prior to the accident. The operator stated that the previously installed smoke generating equipment, specifically the hose which supplies oil to the exhaust stacks, would have been removed and replaced during this maintenance procedure. The smoke generator kit, which had an FAA approved Supplemental Type Certificate, had been operated prior to the aforementioned scheduled maintenance with no reported problems. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N21635](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N21635-2002-09-30), registration cancelled 2002-09-30, S/N 18800923, built 1972 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 188B - Registry model: [Cessna A188B](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-a188b) (registry code 2073005) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental IO-520 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-io-520-series) (registry code 17032, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 18800923 - Airframe hours: 5394 - Engines: Continental IO-520 300 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Fire: On-Ground - Flight: Aerial application, Part 137 - Registered owner: Galen Rhodes - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, December 17, 1999, 221 hours before - Departed: NONE, BOVINA, TX ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 43; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: center; flight hours: 4,100 total, 221 in this make and model, 4,000 as pilot in command, 200 in the last 90 days, 70 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 180° at 18 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 100 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg ## 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 20000906014519A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20000906014519A), Sep 6, 2000: Cessna A188B, Farwell, TX, No damage. (-23) Pilot was just pulling up from a pass, spraying malithion on a cotton field, when he noticed heat and saw fire from the engine. As he lowered the nose,… 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.