# NTSB FTW95LA211: Air Tractor AT-502, N4554R, Lissie, TX, May 20, 1995

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: May 20, 1995, 16:20 local (21:20 UTC)
- Place: Lissie, TX
- Coordinates: 29.520935, -96.22026 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.5209&lon=-96.2203&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report December 19, 1995
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 19429
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW95LA211
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/19429/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW95LA211

## Probable cause

THE PARTIAL LOSS OF ENGINE POWER FOR UNDETERMINED REASONS. A FACTOR WAS THE LACK OF SUITABLE TERRAIN FOR A FORCED LANDING.

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of engine power(partial) - mech failure/malf, takeoff - initial climb
  - reason for occurrence undetermined (cause)
- Forced landing, descent - emergency
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - emergency
  - terrain condition - none suitable (contributing factor)
  - terrain condition - berm

## Analysis

THE AGRICULTURAL AIRPLANE EXECUTED A FORCED LANDING AFTER A PARTIAL LOSS OF ENGINE POWER DURING TAKEOFF FROM A PRIVATE AIRSTRIP. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT THE ENGINE WAS PERFORMING 'NORMALLY' DURING THE INITIAL TAKEOFF ROLL; HOWEVER, 'AFTER THE TAIL CAME UP, THE ENGINE STARTED LOSING POWER.'  HE FURTHER REPORTED THAT THE AIRPLANE COULD NOT SUSTAIN FLIGHT AND COLLIDED WITH A BERM BEYOND THE DEPARTURE END OF THE RUNWAY. THE AIRPLANE CAME TO REST UPRIGHT IN A RICE FIELD AND THE WINGS WERE STRUCTURALLY DAMAGED. EXAMINATION OF THE ENGINE AND FUEL CONTROL DID NOT REVEAL ANY ANOMALIES AND THE CAUSE OF THE LOSS OF POWER COULD NOT BE DETERMINED.

## Factual narrative

On May 20, 1995, approximately 1620 central daylight time, an Air Tractor AT-502, N4554R, was substantially damaged during a forced landing after take off from a private airstrip near Lissie, Texas.  The commercial pilot was not injured.  The airplane, owned and operated by the pilot, was being operated under 14 CFR Part 137 when the accident occurred.  No flight plan was filed and visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the aerial application flight.

The pilot reported that the engine was "performing normally" during the initial take off roll; however, "after the tail came up, the engine started losing power."  He then started to "dump the load" and noticed that the "torque was down to 1200 lbs."  He further reported that the airplane could not sustain flight and collided with a berm beyond the departure end of the runway, coming to rest upright in a rice field.

Examination of the airplane at the site by a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector revealed structural damage to the wings, and sheared main landing gear.  Examination of the engine and fuel control at Aviall, Dallas, Texas, did not reveal any anomalies.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N4554R](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4554R-2013-09-26), registration cancelled 2013-09-26, S/N 502-0135, built 1991 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: AIR TRACTOR AT-502
- Registry model: [Air Tractor AT-502](https://openairdocs.org/model/air-tractor-at-502) (registry code 0390303) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Pratt & Whitney PT6A series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-pt6a-series) (registry code 52032, turbo-prop) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 502-0135
- Airframe hours: 2425
- Engines: P&W PT6-34 740 horsepower turbo prop
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Aerial application, Part 137
- Registered owner: Lissie Flying Service Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special)
- Last inspection: Annual, March 11, 1995, 217 hours before

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 57; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, single-engine sea, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: center; flight hours: 21,023 total, 2,425 in this make and model, 2,082 as pilot in command, 217 in the last 90 days, 100 in the last 30 days, 6 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 110° at 3 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 19950520012179A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19950520012179A), May 20, 1995: Airtrc AT502, Lissie, TX, Substantial damage. Reported power loss on tail up takeoff roll. Dumped load. Overran end of strip. No engine defects found.

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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