N1035F

Substantial
None

AIR TRACTOR AT-502S/N: 502-0081

Accident Details

Date
Tuesday, December 16, 2008
NTSB Number
WPR09CA064
Location
Dinuba, CA
Event ID
20081223X91642
Coordinates
36.458332, -119.385276
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
Highest Injury
None
Fatalities
0
Serious Injuries
0
Minor Injuries
0
Uninjured
1
Total Aboard
1

Probable Cause and Findings

The failure of maintenance personnel to properly install the engine's Py line correctly, which resulted in the total loss of engine power and subsequent force landing. Contributing to the accident was the lack of suitable terrain.

Aircraft Information

Registration
N1035F
Make
AIR TRACTOR
Serial Number
502-0081
Engine Type
Turbo-shaft
Year Built
1990
Model / ICAO
AT-502AT5T
Aircraft Type
Fixed Wing Single Engine
No. of Engines
1

Registered Owner (Historical)

Name
GILBERT AVIATION INDUSTRIES INC
Address
35900 ROAD 112
Status
Deregistered
City
VISALIA
State / Zip Code
CA 93291
Country
United States

Analysis

The pilot reported that about halfway through the first spray pass he experienced a complete loss of engine power. The pilot stated that he pulled up out of the field, dumped the load, and chose to land straight ahead in an adjoining field. The pilot reported that after touching down and holding the stick back the tail started lifting. Before it stopped, the airplane nosed over and came to rest inverted. A Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) airworthiness aviation safety inspector conducted a post accident examination of the airplane. The airplane's most recent annual inspection had been completed the day prior to the accident. The FAA inspector found the engine's Py line had not been secured properly, which would have prevented proper fuel scheduling to the engine's fuel control unit. The inspector also reported that the outboard leading edge of the left wing tip had sustained substantial damage, which would have adversely affected the flight characteristics of the airplane.

Data Source

Data provided by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). For more information on this event, visit the NTSB Records Search website. NTSB# WPR09CA064