# NTSB WPR10LA339: Douglas A4L, N132AT, Fallon, NV, July 8, 2010 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 8, 2010, 13:40 local (20:40 UTC) - Place: Fallon, NV - Coordinates: 39.455001, -118.731941 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.4550&lon=-118.7319&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Initial climb: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report July 12, 2011 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 76557 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR10LA339 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/76557/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=76557 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR10LA339 ## Probable cause A loss of engine power during takeoff due to the failure of the engine's stator and turbine. Contributing to the accident was inadequate maintenance. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Engine (turbine/turboprop): turbine section](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057250): Aircraft › Aircraft power plant · Failure (probable cause); cases with it: [Douglas A4D-2N, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057250/cases.md?model=3021013), [All aircraft, 74 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057250/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Attain/maintain not possible; cases with it: [Douglas A4D-2N, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000/cases.md?model=3021013), [All aircraft, 1,269 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Initial climb: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) (defining event); cases with it: [Douglas A4D-2N, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=3021013), [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md) - [Emergency descent: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440); cases with it: [Douglas A4D-2N, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=3021013), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md) - [Emergency descent: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Douglas A4D-2N, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=3021013), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis According to the pilot, he entered a right-hand climbing turn after departure and the engine experienced a loss of thrust. The pilot reversed direction and attempted to land on the runway in the opposite direction, but the airplane was too low and slow to make it back to the runway. He elected to steer the airplane in the direction of an empty field and successfully ejected. The operator reported that their postaccident examination of the engine determined that the protective coating on the turbine blades and stators had degraded. This degradation led to the eventual failure of the stator vanes and then the turbine blades. They could not establish the exact reason for the degradation of the protective coating. ## Factual narrative On July 8, 2010, about 1340 Pacific daylight time, a Douglas A4L, N132AT, collided with terrain after the pilot ejected following a loss of engine power on takeoff from Fallon Naval Air Station, Fallon, Nevada. Airborne Tactical Advantage Company (ATAC) was operating the airplane under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 91 on a local public-use flight. The airline transport pilot sustained minor injuries. The airplane sustained substantial damage by impact forces and post crash fire. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed. The operator reported that the takeoff and gear and flap retraction were normal. The pilot started a right turn for departure from the airport traffic area during the initial climb when the engine lost power. He reversed his turn, and attempted to land on the runway in the opposite direction of the takeoff. The airplane was too low and slow, so he steered the airplane in the direction of an empty field and successfully ejected. The airplane exploded on impact. The operator reported that their examination of the engine determined that the protective coating on the turbine blades and stators had degraded. This degradation led to the eventual failure of the stator vanes and then the turbine blades. They could not establish the exact reason for the degradation of the protective coating. The operator listed several contributing factors. They were unaware of a requirement to down trim the engines to a maximum of 102 percent until an associated technical change had been complied with. The airplane had a modified electrical start system that resulted in starts that approached the flight manual time and temperature maximum limits. During the post accident exam, they discovered a broken fuel tube due to fatigue in the combustion chamber at the 11 o'clock position. The operator believes that none of the contributing conditions caused the engine problem. However, they stated that the combination of the three led to the degradation of the protective coatings on the stators and blades in the turbine section, and ultimately the failure of the turbine blades. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N132AT](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N132AT-2011-07-23), registration cancelled 2011-07-23, S/N 12374, built 1960 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: DOUGLAS A4L - Registry model: [Douglas A4D-2N](https://openairdocs.org/model/douglas-a4d-2n) (registry code 3021013) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Wright J65-W series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/wright-j65-w-series) (registry code 67039, turbo-jet) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 12374 - Airframe hours: 4926 - Engines: Curtis Wright J-65-20 turbo jet - Damage: Substantial damage - Fire: On-Ground - Flight: Public aircraft - federal, Part 91 - Operator: Airborne Tactical Advantage Co - Registered owner: A-4 L LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, July 10, 2010, 44 hours before - Departed: NFL, Fallon, NV - Destination: NFL, Fallon, NV - Flight plan: IFR - Airport: NFL, Fallon NAS, runway 31R, 11,079 × 200 ft, concrete ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 48; injuries: minor; commercial, airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review October 30, 2008; seat: single; flight hours: 5,152 total, 1,405 in this make and model, 4,682 as pilot in command, 57 in the last 90 days, 26 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 91 °F, dew point 23 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: KNFL ## Docket (1 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on May 13, 2011, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=76557. 4.0 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 4.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40347048&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF 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.