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Aviation safety reports, made easier to study

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May 5, 2014 · Air Tractor AT 301 NO Series · N7309Z

Hessmer, LA

Overview

Report Status
Final with probable cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
May 5, 2014
Injury Outcomes
No injuries (1 uninjured)
Location
Hessmer, LA
Aircraft
Air Tractor AT 301 NO Series (1986)
Tail Number
N7309Z
Operator
Pro-Air
Injuries
None
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
CEN14LA229

The pilot stated that the radial engine lost power as he approached a rice field that he was going to spray; he made a forced landing on a levee. The main landing gear hit a soft spot during the landing and the airplane veered off the road into a field, where it flipped inverted. Although the pilot suspected the blower had failed, the blower was not accessible for examination and no discrepancies were noted in the airplane's maintenance logbooks. The insurance company totaled the airplane and no further examination of the engine could be performed; accordingly, the reason for the loss of power could not be determined.

NTSB Probable Cause

A partial loss of engine power for reasons that could not be determined because a full examination of the engine could not be performed.

Full Narrative

On May 5, 2014, about 0900 central daylight time, N7309Z, an Air Tractor 301, was substantially damaged when it made a forced landing to a rice levee in Hessmer, Louisiana, after a loss of engine power. The commercial pilot was not injured. The airplane was registered to and operated by Pro-Air, LLC, Hamburg, Louisiana. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed an no flight plan was filed for the local, aerial spraying flight conducted under 14 Federal Aviation Regulations Part 137. The airplane departed about 0853 from a private airstrip located in Hessmer, Louisiana. The pilot stated that the radial engine lost power (he suspected the blower had failed) as he approached a rice field that he was going to spray and he made a forced landing on a levee. The main landing gear hit a soft spot during the landing and the airplane veered off the road into the field and flipped inverted resulting in substantial damage to the vertical stabilizer and left wing. According to a representative of the airplane recovery company, the three-bladed propeller sustained damage to two of the blades. The engine mounts and firewall were not damaged and there was no obvious damage to the engine. The blower was no accessible to examine. A Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) maintenance inspector reviewed the airplane's maintenance logbooks and found no discrepancies. The insurance company totaled the airplane and no further examination of the engine was performed and the loss of power was undetermined.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time09:00 CDT
Nearest Airport0nm
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftAir Tractor AT 301 NO Series
Tail NumberN7309Z
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageSubstantial
OperatorPro-Air
Operating RulePart 137
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsP&W · R1340 SERIES · Reciprocating · 600
Seats1

People & Injuries

Injury SummaryNo injuries (1 uninjured)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured1
Total1
Crew 1Age 31 · Second Class · None

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
WindCalm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point0 C / 0 C
Altimeter0

Appendix: Source Data