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June 8, 2001 · Air Tractor AT-400 · N400ZR

Oil Trough, AR

Overview

Report Status
Final with probable cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
June 8, 2001
Injury Outcomes
No injuries (1 uninjured)
Location
Oil Trough, AR
Aircraft
Air Tractor AT-400
Tail Number
N400ZR
Injuries
None
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
FTW01LA137

While returning to the private grass airstrip, the agricultural airplane's engine lost power, and the pilot executed a forced landing to a field. During the landing roll, the airplane impacted crops, ground looped, and came to rest upright in the field. Examination by an FAA inspector found that the airplane's fuel tank was empty. The pilot stated that fuel starvation occurred.

NTSB Probable Cause

the pilot's failure to refuel the airplane which resulted in the loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion. A contributory factor was the lack of suitable terrain for the forced landing.

Full Narrative

On June 8, 2001, at 1400 central daylight time, an Air Tractor AT-400 agricultural airplane, N400ZR, was substantially damaged during impact with terrain following a loss of engine power during cruise near Oil Trough, Arkansas. The commercial pilot, sole occupant of the airplane, was not injured. The airplane was owned and operated by Hankins Flying Service, of Oil Trough, Arkansas. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and a flight plan was not filed for the 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 137 aerial application flight. The flight originated from the Hankins Flying Service private grass airstrip at 1350. On the Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report (NTSB Form 6120.1/2), the pilot stated that the flight was returning to the airstrip after completing the aerial application of fertilizer onto a rice field. When the airplane was approximately 300-400 feet agl, the "engine started losing power." The pilot turned the fuel boost pump "ON" and dumped the remainder of fertilizer from the airplane's hopper. The pilot attempted a forced landing to a bean field. The airplane cleared a highline, however, it landed in a rice field about 50-70 yards short of the bean field. The pilot stated that, in his opinion, "fuel starvation occurred." According to the FAA inspector, who responded to the accident site, the airplane impacted crops, ground looped, and came to rest upright in the field. The FAA inspector found the airplane's fuel tank empty. Both wings were found separated from the fuselage, and the fuselage was found separated in half.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time14:00 CDT
Nearest AirportPRIVATE (0nm)
Runway36
Flight Plan FiledNone
Flight Plan ActivatedNo
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftAir Tractor AT-400
Tail NumberN400ZR
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageSubstantial
Operating RulePart 137
Engines1
Engine TypeTurboprop
Engine DetailsP&W · PT6-11AG · Turboprop · 528
Seats1

People & Injuries

Injury SummaryNo injuries (1 uninjured)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured1
Total1
Crew 1Age 36 · Second Class · None

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind90° @ 5 kt
Visibility10 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point64 F
Altimeter30.02 inHg
Observation Time18:55
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data