# NTSB WPR21LA368: Air Tractor AT-602, N8521V, Sacramento, CA, May 21, 2022 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: May 21, 2022, 15:00 local (22:00 UTC) - Place: Sacramento, CA · Scheidel Ranch Airport CA07 - Coordinates: 38.838611, -121.54722 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.8386&lon=-121.5472&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Fuel starvation](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 107076 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR21LA368 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/107076/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=107076 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR21LA368 ## Probable cause The pilot's inadequate fuel management, which resulted in a total loss of engine power due to fuel starvation. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Use of equip/info: use of equip/system](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Air Tractor AT-602, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015/cases.md?model=0390309), [All aircraft, 1,391 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015/cases.md) - [Fluids: fuel](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010): Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware · Fluid management (probable cause); cases with it: [Air Tractor AT-602, 8 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md?model=0390309), [All aircraft, 1,695 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/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: Fuel starvation](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191) (defining event); cases with it: [Air Tractor AT-602, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191/sequence.md?model=0390309), [All aircraft, 733 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191/sequence.md) - [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Air Tractor AT-602, 37 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=0390309), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that, during an aerial application flight, the engine lost total power. The pilot attempted to restart the engine but was unsuccessful and was forced to land in a dry plowed field. The left wing was substantially damaged. Postaccident examination of the airplane revealed that the right-side fuel tank was almost empty, and the left side fuel tank contained approximately 15 gallons of fuel. The Airplane Flight Manual for the airplane states that skidding turns below ½ tanks can transfer fuel from one tank to another, which will lead to engine flameout if one tank runs dry. Subsequently, the pilot stated that he should have completed a better visual inspection of the contents of both fuel tanks before takeoff. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N8521V](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N8521V), registered now, S/N 602-0690, built 2004 (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 PT6A series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-pt6a-series) (registry code 52032, turbo-prop) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 602-0690 - Year built: 2004 - Airframe hours: 7937 - Engines: Pratt & Whitney PT6A 1050 horsepower turbo prop - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Aerial application, Part 137 - Operator: Farm Air Flying Service LLC - Registered owner: Farm Air Flying Service LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special) - Last inspection: 100 hour, April 19, 2022 - Departed: CA07, PLEASANT GROVE, CA - Airport: CA07, Scheidel Ranch Airport - Equipment: ADS-B ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 68; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine sea, single-engine land; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review November 3, 2021; seat: single; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 31,200 total, 632 in this make and model, 31,200 as pilot in command, 145 in the last 90 days, 145 in the last 30 days, 10 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 290° at 7 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 25,000 ft broken - Temperature: 86 °F, dew point 18 °F - Altimeter: 29.87 inHg - Observed at: KSMF, 9 nm away - METAR: KSMF 212153Z 29007KT 240V320 10SM BKN250 30/M08 A2987 ## 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 20220521021849A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20220521021849A), May 21, 2022: Air Tractor Inc AT-602, Sacramento, CA, Substantial damage. The pilot reported that he was applying seed to a rice field and was making a turn to return to the field when the engine quit. The pilot stated that he tried… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 7, 2023, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=107076. 2.9 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 2.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15458409&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=WPR21LA368%206120%20N8521V_Redacted-Rel.pdf - AT-602 airplane flight manual placard (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 215 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15534649&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Placard%20half%20tanks-Rel.pdf - Photos (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 161 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15460310&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=WPR21LA368%20pic%20N8521V-Rel.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.