# NTSB MIA95LA227: Air Tractor AT-301A, N7304C, Vero Beach, FL, September 21, 1995 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: September 21, 1995, 08:00 local (12:00 UTC) - Place: Vero Beach, FL - Location: 27.6472° N, 80.3931° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Vero Beach, FL, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=27.6472&lon=-80.3931&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report February 8, 1996 - Report: Approved by Office Director - ADs cited in the narratives: [AD 48-34-02](https://openairdocs.org/ad/48-34-02) (OpenAirDocs) - NTSB case key (mKey): 37828 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA95LA227 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/37828/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA95LA227 ## Probable cause FAILURE OF COMPANY MAINTENANCE PERSONNEL TO COMPLY WITH A REQUIRED AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVE, RESULTING IN AN IN-FLIGHT FIRE AND EMERGENCY LANDING. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT 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). - Fire, maneuvering - aerial application - spray/dusting equipment - improper (cause) - maintenance,compliance with ad - not complied with, company maintenance personnel (cause) - spray/dusting equipment - exploded - Forced landing, emergency descent/landing - In flight collision with object, emergency descent/landing - terrain condition - none suitable (contributing factor) - object - tree(s) ## Analysis THE PILOT STATED THAT, WHILE DUSTING WITH SULFUR, AN EXPLOSION OCCURRED THAT BLEW THE LID OFF OF THE HOPPER, FOLLOWED BY AN IN-FLIGHT FIRE. WHILE MANEUVERING FOR AN EMERGENCY LANDING, THE AIRPLANE COLLIDED WITH TREES, CAME TO REST INVERTED, AND A POSTCRASH FIRE ENSUED. EXAMINATION OF THE AIRPLANE RECORDS REVEALED NO ENTRY THAT AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVE 48-34-02, REQUIRING 5 FIRE PREVENTION MEASURES (LOCATION OF ENGINE EXHAUST, BONDING OF FUSELAGE, AGITATOR BEARING DESIGN/MAINTENANCE, HOPPER GATE CONSTRUCTION/MATERIAL, AND FIRE RESISTANT LOWER FUSELAGE), HAD BEEN COMPLIED WITH. ## Factual narrative On September 21, 1995, about 0800 eastern daylight time, N7304C, an Air Tractor AT-301A, operated by Indian River Flying Service experienced a hopper fire in flight and crashed in Vero Beach, Florida, while on a 14 CFR Part 137 agricultural flight. Instrument meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan was filed for the local flight. The pilot received minor injuries and the airplane was destroyed by fire. The flight had originated about 20 minutes earlier. The pilot reported and a witness observed the hopper catch on fire in flight. The pilot executed an emergency landing to a road between trees in an orange grove. The hopper was filled with sulfur dust. Examination of the airplane's logbooks by an FAA inspector produced no recorded entries of compliance with Airworthiness Directive(AD) 48-34-02, which is applicable to all aircraft engaged in sulfur dusting. This AD lists five fire prevention measures that must be complied with before engaging in sulfur dusting operations. The following measures are:[1] location of engine exhaust,[2] bonding of fuselage,[3] agitator bearing design/maintenance,[4] hopper gate construction/material,[5] fire resistant lower fuselage. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N7304C](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N7304C-1996-06-04), registration cancelled 1996-06-04, S/N 3010597 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: AIR TRACTOR AT-301A - Registry model: [Air Tractor AT-301](https://openairdocs.org/model/air-tractor-at-301) (registry code 0390103) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 301-0597 - Airframe hours: 3176 - Engines: P&W R-1340-AN1 600 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Fire: In-Flight - Flight: Aerial application, Part 137 - Operator: Indian Rver Flying Service Inc, doing business as Aerial Application - Registered owner: Indian River Flying Service - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, March 6, 1995 - Departed: X52, FL ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 37; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: center; flight hours: 10,320 total, 1,500 in this make and model, 10,270 as pilot in command, 35 in the last 90 days, 17 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Day - Wind: 330° at 5 knots - Visibility: 2 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 75 °F, dew point 73 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: VRB, 10 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 19950921032619A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19950921032619A), Sep 21, 1995: Airtrc AT301, Vero Beach, FL, Destroyed. Hopper fire inflight. Pilot landed on road between trees. Sulphur dust a factor. Non compliance with ADS on subject 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.