# NTSB WPR14LA267: Air Tractor AT 502B, N61150, Sacramento, CA, June 23, 2014 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: June 23, 2014, 12:00 local (19:00 UTC) - Place: Sacramento, CA - Coordinates: 38.750278, -121.524719 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.7503&lon=-121.5247&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report January 12, 2015 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: FAA FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 89533 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR14LA267 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/89533/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=89533 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR14LA267 ## Probable cause The total loss of engine power for reasons that could not be determined because the airplane was not available for postaccident examination. ## 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); cases with it: [Air Tractor AT-502B, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md?model=0390307), [All aircraft, 2,247 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) (defining event); cases with it: [Air Tractor AT-502B, 8 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=0390307), [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: [Air Tractor AT-502B, 14 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=0390307), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096); cases with it: [Air Tractor AT-502B, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md?model=0390307), [All aircraft, 2,287 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot of the agricultural aerial application flight reported that, while he was returning to base and when the airplane was about 300 ft above ground level, the engine suddenly lost all power. He attempted to land on a road, but the airplane was unable to reach it, so he landed in a flooded field. During the landing, the tailwheel-equipped airplane abruptly stopped and nosed over, which resulted in substantial damage to the fuselage and vertical stabilizer. The pilot reported no preaccident mechanical anomalies with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The operator did not provide any aircraft logbooks for examination nor did the operator make the airplane available for examination. ## Factual narrative On June 23, 2014, about 1200 Pacific daylight time, an Air Tractor AT-502B airplane, N61150 sustained substantial damage when it nosed over, during an off-airport landing, following a loss of engine power. The airplane was being operated by Farm Air Flying Service Inc., Sacramento, California, as a visual flight rules (VFR) agricultural aerial application flight under 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 137. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and the solo pilot received minor injuries. The airplane departed a private company airstrip, and company flight following procedures were in effect. During a telephone conversation with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigator-in-charge (IIC) on June 24, a company representative said the pilot reported that the engine lost power while maneuvering at a low altitude during a crop spraying operation. He glided the airplane for landing into a rice field, which was submerged under about 10 inches of water with a soft bottom. During the landing, the tailwheel equipped airplane came to an abrupt stop and nosed over. The operator said he would not elaborate further prior to talking directly with the pilot. There were no reported mechanical anomalies prior to the loss of engine power. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the vertical stabilizer and rudder. In a written statement dated September 16, provided by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector, the pilot reported that he was returning to base, about 300 feet above ground level when the engine suddenly lost all power. He said he attempted to glide to a farm road, but unable to reach the road he landed in a flooded field. Following the initial contact with the NTSB IIC, the operator did not return any phone calls or emails from the IIC, and did not submit the NTSB 6120.1 Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident/Incident Report form as requested. No aircraft logbooks were presented for examination, and the operator did not make the airplane available for examination. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N61150](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N61150-2016-01-11), registration cancelled 2016-01-11, S/N 502B-0294, built 1995 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: AIR TRACTOR INC AT 502B (B) - Registry model: [Air Tractor AT-502B](https://openairdocs.org/model/air-tractor-at-502b) (registry code 0390307) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Pratt & Whitney PT6A series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-pt6a-series) (registry code 52034, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 502B-0294 - Year built: 1995 - Engines: P&W PT6A turbo prop - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Aerial application, Part 137 - Operator: Farm Air Flying Service Inc - Registered owner: Farm Air Flying Service Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: Sacramento, CA - Destination: Sacramento, CA - Flight plan: Company VFR ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 70; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: unknown; last flight review March 2, 2014; seat: single; flight hours: 18,723 total, 2,230 in this make and model, 250 in the last 90 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 180° at 4 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 25,000 ft broken - Temperature: 84 °F, dew point 46 °F - Altimeter: 29.87 inHg - Observed at: SMF ## 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 20140623013959A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20140623013959A), Jun 23, 2014: Air Tractor Inc AT-502B, Substantial damage. The commercial pilot was returning to the home airstrip at Riego Road after applying fertilizer to a field when he had a "sudden and total engine failure". He… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on November 24, 2014, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=89533. 373 KB in all. - Pilot's Statement (item 1, .PDF, 209 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40419369&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%27s%20Statement-Master.PDF - Correspondence (item 2, .PDF, 71 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40419370&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Correspondence-Master.PDF - Photo 1 - Tail Section Damage (Photo Courtesy of FAA) (item 3, .PDF, 93 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40419371&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201%20-%20Tail%20Section%20Damage%20(Photo%20Courtesy%20of%20FAA)-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.