# NTSB FTW01LA137: Air Tractor AT-400, N400ZR, Oil Trough, AR, June 8, 2001 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: June 8, 2001, 14:00 local (19:00 UTC) - Place: Oil Trough, AR - Coordinates: 35.619506, -91.459472 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.6195&lon=-91.4595&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 9, 2001 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 52449 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW01LA137 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/52449/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW01LA137 ## Probable cause the pilot's failure to refuel the airplane which resulted in the loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion. A contributory 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) - nonmechanical, cruise - fluid,fuel - exhaustion (cause) - refueling - not performed, pilot in command (cause) - Forced landing, emergency descent/landing - In flight collision with terrain/water, landing - roll - terrain condition - none suitable (contributing factor) - terrain condition - crop - terrain condition - wet ## Analysis While returning to the private grass airstrip, the agricultural airplane's engine lost power, and the pilot executed a forced landing to a field. During the landing roll, the airplane impacted crops, ground looped, and came to rest upright in the field. Examination by an FAA inspector found that the airplane's fuel tank was empty. The pilot stated that fuel starvation occurred. ## Factual narrative On June 8, 2001, at 1400 central daylight time, an Air Tractor AT-400 agricultural airplane, N400ZR, was substantially damaged during impact with terrain following a loss of engine power during cruise near Oil Trough, Arkansas. The commercial pilot, sole occupant of the airplane, was not injured. The airplane was owned and operated by Hankins Flying Service, of Oil Trough, Arkansas. 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 the Hankins Flying Service private grass airstrip at 1350. On the Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report (NTSB Form 6120.1/2), the pilot stated that the flight was returning to the airstrip after completing the aerial application of fertilizer onto a rice field. When the airplane was approximately 300-400 feet agl, the "engine started losing power." The pilot turned the fuel boost pump "ON" and dumped the remainder of fertilizer from the airplane's hopper. The pilot attempted a forced landing to a bean field. The airplane cleared a highline, however, it landed in a rice field about 50-70 yards short of the bean field. The pilot stated that, in his opinion, "fuel starvation occurred." According to the FAA inspector, who responded to the accident site, the airplane impacted crops, ground looped, and came to rest upright in the field. The FAA inspector found the airplane's fuel tank empty. Both wings were found separated from the fuselage, and the fuselage was found separated in half. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N400ZR](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N400ZR-2018-04-03), registration cancelled 2018-04-03, S/N 400-0516 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Air Tractor AT-400 - Registry model: [Air Tractor AT-400](https://openairdocs.org/model/air-tractor-at-400) (registry code 0390202) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 400-0516 - Airframe hours: 6500 - Engines: P&W PT6-11AG 528 horsepower turbo prop - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Aerial application, Part 137 - Registered owner: Hankins Flying Service - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special) - Last inspection: 100 hour, May 12, 2001, 100 hours before - Departed: N/A, Oil Trough, AR - Airport: Private, runway 36, grass/turf ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 36; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; last flight review September 27, 1999; seat: center; flight hours: 7,500 total, 1,500 in this make and model, 7,500 as pilot in command ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 90° at 5 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 84 °F, dew point 64 °F - Altimeter: 30.02 inHg - Observed at: BVX ## 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 20010608014559A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20010608014559A), Jun 8, 2001: Airtrc AT400, Oiltrough, AR, No damage. (-23) On June 8, 2001 at approximately 1400 hours, N400ZR, an air tractor, AT-400 engine failed and crash-landed while returning to the refuel and re-load ag… 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.