# NTSB FTW88DRD21: Air Tractor AT301, N31646, Ferriday, LA, September 19, 1988

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Final report
- Date: September 19, 1988, 15:00 local (20:00 UTC)
- Place: Ferriday, LA
- Coordinates: 31.629234, -91.55091 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=31.6292&lon=-91.5509&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 11, 1989
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 22505
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW88DRD21
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/22505/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW88DRD21

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of engine power, maneuvering - aerial application
  - engine assembly,cylinder - cracked (cause)
  - engine assembly,cylinder - low compression (cause)
- Forced landing, maneuvering - aerial application
- On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - roll
  - terrain condition - soft (contributing factor)

## Analysis

THE AGRICULTURAL AIRPLANE WAS ON A SWATH RUN WHEN THE ENGINE MALFUNCTIONED. THE PILOT RELEASED THE LOAD OF CHEMICALS AND MADE A FORCED LANDING IN A BEAN FIELD. THERE WAS VERY LITTLE DAMAGE TO THE BEANS BUT THERE WAS SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE TO THE AIRPLANE. TEARDOWN INSPECTION OF THE ENGINE REVEALED A CRACK FROM ONE SPARK PLUG HOLE TO THE OTHER SPARK PLUG HOLE IN THE NUMBER FIVE CYLINDER. INDICATIONS WERE THAT THIS CRACK DID NOT AFFECT THE ENGINE VALVE OPERATION.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N31646](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N31646-1997-03-28), registration cancelled 1997-03-28, S/N 3010543 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: AIR TRACTOR AT301
- Registry model: [Air Tractor AT-301](https://openairdocs.org/model/air-tractor-at-301) (registry code 0390103) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 301-0543
- Airframe hours: 2400
- Engines: P&W R-1340-AN-1 600 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Aerial application, Part 137
- Operator: Ben Bernard, doing business as Concordia Air Service
- Registered owner: Concordia Air Service, Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special)
- Last inspection: Annual, May 2, 1988, 342 hours before

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 49; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: center; flight hours: 20,000 total, 1,000 in this make and model, 2,000 as pilot in command, 400 in the last 90 days, 100 in the last 30 days, 10 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 170° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 90 °F, dew point 73 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: MCB, 60 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 19880919043699A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19880919043699A), Sep 19, 1988: Airtrc AT301, Ferriday, LA, Substantial damage. Crash landed when engine quit during a spray run. Cylinder head cracked but did not cause the power loss.

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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