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July 26, 2002 · Air Tractor AT-301 · N2326S

Malta, IL

Overview

Report Status
Final with probable cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
July 26, 2002
Injury Outcomes
1 injury (1 minor injury)
Location
Malta, IL
Aircraft
Air Tractor AT-301
Tail Number
N2326S
Operator
Hendrickson Flying Service
Injuries
Minor
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
CHI02CA224

On July 26, 2002, at approximately 0930 central daylight time, an Air Tractor AT-301, N2326S, piloted by a commercial pilot, was substantially damaged during a forced landing following a loss of engine power. The airplane was engaged in agricultural application work under 14 CFR Part 137 at the time of the accident. The airplane departed at 0800 cdt from runway 18 (2,800 feet x 80 feet, turf) at the Hendrickson Flying Service Airport (IL93), Creston, Illinois. Hendrickson is a private airport located ten (10) miles west of Dekalb Taylor Municipal Airport (DKB). The accident occurred approximately two (2) miles northeast of Hendrickson Flying Service Airport. The flight intended to return to Hendrickson following completion of its agricultural application work. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The pilot sustained minor injuries.

NTSB Probable Cause

The probable cause of this accident was fuel exhaustion, due to a failure to properly compute initial fuel quantity and/or fuel consumption.

Full Narrative

On July 26, 2002, at approximately 0930 central daylight time, an Air Tractor AT-301, N2326S, piloted by a commercial pilot, was substantially damaged during a forced landing following a loss of engine power. The airplane was engaged in agricultural application work under 14 CFR Part 137 at the time of the accident. The airplane departed at 0800 cdt from runway 18 (2,800 feet x 80 feet, turf) at the Hendrickson Flying Service Airport (IL93), Creston, Illinois. Hendrickson is a private airport located ten (10) miles west of Dekalb Taylor Municipal Airport (DKB). The accident occurred approximately two (2) miles northeast of Hendrickson Flying Service Airport. The flight intended to return to Hendrickson following completion of its agricultural application work. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The pilot sustained minor injuries. The pilot stated: "I took off at 8:00am from Hendrickson Flying Service strip with a load of spray material. . . . After spraying 3 fields I headed back to HFS, 4 miles NE of HFS low fuel psi light came on and no fuel psi on gauge, engine quit. I had been ferrying at 600 ft agl and had already started reducing manifold pressure for descent. When engine quit I had no where to go but in field corn at 9:30am." Examination of the aircraft after the accident revealed no evidence of fuel in the tanks. The fuel pump inlet hose and carburetor fuel line were removed. No evidence of fuel was found in the fuel pump hose. A small amount of fuel was found in the carburetor fuel line. The pilot holds a commercial pilot certificate with an airplane -- single-engine land rating. His second class medical certificate was issued on March 12, 2002. He has accumulated 2,362 hours total time, of which 338 hours are in the same make and model as the accident aircraft. He reported flying 238 hours in the last 90 days. The Air Tractor AT-301, S/N 301-0381, involved in the accident had accumulated 7,960 hours total time. An annual inspection was completed on June 12, 2002, and had been flown 83 hours since then. The Pratt & Whitney R-1340 series engine installed had accumulated 1,041 hours since overhaul. The pilot did not report any malfunctions or failures with the airplane or engine either prior to, or at the time of, the accident. Weather conditions at the scene were reported by the pilot as 1,500 agl overcast, with three (3) miles visibility, and south-west winds at five (5) knots. The Dekalb Taylor Municipal Airport (DKB) AWOS, located eight (8) miles east-southeast of the accident site, at 0924 cdt, reported conditions as clear, seven (7) miles visibility in haze, and winds from 240 degrees at four (4) knots.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time08:30 CDT
Nearest AirportHendrickson Flying Service (2nm NE)
Runway18
Runway Length2800 ft
Runway Width80 ft
Flight Plan FiledNone
Flight Plan ActivatedNo
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftAir Tractor AT-301
Tail NumberN2326S
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageSubstantial
OperatorHendrickson Flying Service
Operating RulePart 137
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsPratt & Whitney · R1340-S3N1G · Reciprocating · 600
Seats1

People & Injuries

Injury Summary1 injury (1 minor injury)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor1
Uninjured0
Total1
Crew 1Age 40 · Second Class · Minor

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind240° @ 4 kt
Visibility7 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point68 F
Altimeter29.88 inHg
Observation Time14:24
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data