# NTSB WPR12LA032: Air Tractor AT-602, N325BR, Williams, CA, November 8, 2011 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: November 8, 2011, 14:15 local (22:15 UTC) - Place: Williams, CA - Coordinates: 39.14611, -122.353889 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.1461&lon=-122.3539&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: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report September 30, 2013 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration, Pratt & Whitney Canada - NTSB case key (mKey): 82277 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR12LA032 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/82277/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=82277 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR12LA032 ## Probable cause A total loss of engine power during takeoff initial climb for reasons that could not be determined because postaccident examination did not reveal any anomalies that would have precluded normal operation. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Not determined](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000): Not determined › Not determined · Unknown/Not determined (probable cause) ## Analysis The pilot reported that during the takeoff initial climb from a private airstrip, the engine began to surge, and erratic propeller rpm and engine torque readings were displayed on the engine instruments. The pilot initiated a 180-degree turn back to the departure airport, and about halfway through the turn, the engine lost complete power. The pilot initiated a forced landing in the direction of the departure airport and landed hard. A postaccident examination of the airframe and turbine engine revealed no evidence of mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. The engine was subsequently removed from the airframe and installed on an engine test stand. The engine was run at various power settings with no anomalies noted. ## Factual narrative On November 8, 2011, about 1415 Pacific standard time, an Air Tractor AT-602, N325BR, sustained substantial damage during a forced landing following a loss of engine power during takeoff initial climb from a private airstrip near Williams, California. The airplane was registered to and operated by Pacific Valley Aviation, Arbuckle, California, under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. The commercial pilot, sole occupant of the airplane, was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed for the local aerial observation flight, which was originating at the time of the accident. During a telephone conversation with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigator-in-charge (IIC), the pilot reported that during takeoff initial climb from a private airstrip at an altitude of about 150 feet above ground level (agl), the engine began to surge along with erratic propeller revolutions per minute (RPM) and engine torque readings on the engine instruments. The pilot initiated a 180-degree turn back to the departure airport and about half way through the turn, the engine lost complete power. He then initiated a forced landing in the direction of the departure airport. Subsequently, the airplane landed hard on the northern part of the departure airport and came to rest upright. Examination of the airplane by company personnel revealed that both wings and fuselage were structurally damaged. The wreckage recovery personnel reported a fuel amount of more than 30 gallons was removed from the wreckage prior to transport. Postaccident examination of the airplane by the NTSB IIC revealed no anomalies with the airframe. Continuity from the cockpit engine controls to the engine was established. The engine visually appeared to be intact and undamaged, with all fuel lines, oil lines, and pneumatic lines intact and secure. The engine was removed and shipped to Pratt & Whitney Canada, Montreal, Canada, for further examination. Examination of the turbine engine was conducted at the facilities of Pratt & Whitney Canada, Montreal, Canada, under the supervision of the NTSB IIC. A borescope inspection revealed no evidence of any internal damage to the engine. The engine was installed on an engine test stand and subsequently run. The engine functioned normally throughout a various range of power settings. The propeller governor and overspeed governor were tested on a test bench. Both functioned normally with test results consistent with normal field adjustment of both units. Review of the airplane maintenance records revealed that the engine and airframe underwent their most recent 100-hour inspection on July 15, 2011, at an engine total time since new of 1,980.4 hours. ## 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) - [Landing: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440) - [Landing: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470) ## Aircraft - Registration: [N325BR](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N325BR-2020-10-05), registration cancelled 2020-10-05, S/N 602-1147 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: AIR TRACTOR INC AT-602 - Registry model: [Air Tractor AT-602](https://openairdocs.org/model/air-tractor-at-602) (registry code 0390309) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-65AG](https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-canada-pt6a-65ag) (registry code 52109, turbo-prop) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 602-1147 - Airframe hours: 2034 - Engines: P&W CANADA PT6A-65AG 1300 horsepower turbo prop - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Aerial observation, Part 91 - Operator: Pacific Valley Aviation Inc - Registered owner: Pacific Valley Aviation Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special) - Last inspection: 100 hour, July 15, 2011, 2 hours before - Departed: Williams, CA - Destination: Williams, CA - Airport: Private, runway 36, 2,000 × 100 ft, gravel ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 33; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2; last flight review March 8, 2010; seat: center; flight hours: 5,458 total, 759 in this make and model, 5,458 as pilot in command, 140 in the last 90 days, 10 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 280° at 3 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 59 °F, dew point 41 °F - Altimeter: 30.29 inHg - Observed at: MYV, 37 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 20111108027129A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20111108027129A), Nov 8, 2011: Air Tractor Inc AT-602, Williams, CA, Substantial damage. Shortly after takeoff the engine quit, the pilot initiated an emergency landing. ## Docket (6 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 28, 2013, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=82277. 5.6 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 864 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40358820&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Record of Conversation - Pilot (item 2, .PDF, 24 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40398899&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation%20-%20Pilot-Master.PDF - NTSB Airframe Examination Summary (item 3, .PDF, 24 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40398901&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=NTSB%20Airframe%20Examination%20Summary-Master.PDF - Pratt & Whitney Examination and Engine Run Report (15 Embedded Images) (item 4, .PDF, 15 photos, 1.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40398902&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pratt%20%26%20Whitney%20Examination%20and%20Engine%20Run%20Report%20(15%20Embedded%20Images)-Master.PDF - Evidence Control Form - Engine (item 5, .PDF, 72 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40398905&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Evidence%20Control%20Form%20-%20Engine-Master.PDF - Photo 1: View of the airplane at the accident site. Courtesy of Plain Parts. (item 6, .PDF, 3.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40398903&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201%3A%20View%20of%20the%20airplane%20at%20the%20accident%20site.%20%20Courtesy%20of%20Plain%20Parts.-Master.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.