Premium research interface

The modern interface for aviation safety intelligence.

Search investigations, review source evidence, monitor watched reports, and trace long-term patterns from one calm, data-first workspace.

63k+
Reports indexed
1940-2026
Coverage
Recent
Last data refresh
Featured Report

Loading…

Loading featured report…

Loading…
Open Report

Safety trends by operating rule

Track fatal and non-fatal accident patterns across Part 91, Part 135, and Part 121 operations.

Loading trend charts…

Browse the aviation graph

Move quickly by aircraft, airport, operator, and time with indexes built for research, not wandering.

Last Data Update

By Decade

By Month

Aircraft Manufacturer

More manufacturers

Airports

More airports

Operators

More operators

About

Aviation safety reports, made easier to study

NTSB Reports is an independent research and search tool for public aviation accident and incident records. It brings NTSB aviation reports, structured fields, docket files, extracted figures, photos, videos, and update history into one searchable interface.

The goal is practical safety education: make it faster to find relevant investigations, compare similar events, review factual records, and understand the evidence behind probable-cause and preliminary reports.

The investigative work and source records belong to the National Transportation Safety Board and the published investigation record. This site is not affiliated with or endorsed by the NTSB.

FAQs

NTSB Report

July 18, 2017 · Air Tractor AT802 A · N816FF

Reyno, AR

Overview

Report Status
Final with probable cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
July 18, 2017
Injury Outcomes
No injuries (1 uninjured)
Location
Reyno, AR
Aircraft
Air Tractor AT802 A (2017)
Tail Number
N816FF
Operator
C & C Flying Service
Injuries
None
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
CEN17LA284

The pilot was returning to the landing strip after an uneventful spray flight when he noticed a rapid increase in engine torque shortly after he made a power reduction. The pilot stated that he “looked at my levers and pushed the prop lever all the way forward.” According to the pilot, there was insufficient thrust to maintain altitude and he made a forced landing in an open field. The airplane’s left wing impacted the ground during landing and the airplane skidded sideways to a stop. The right wingtip, right aileron, and right elevator were substantially damaged. Examination and bench testing revealed no evidence of a mechanical malfunction or failure that would have precluded normal engine operation. Engine control continuity was confirmed from the cockpit levers to their respective engine components, and the engine controls moved smoothly through their full range of motion. An analysis of the airplane’s engine monitor data revealed that the pilot had mistakenly moved the cockpit propeller lever instead of the power lever while he maneuvered to land. When the pilot moved the propeller control aft it increased propeller pitch which, in turn, decreased propeller speed (Np). As Np decreased there was a corresponding increase in engine torque. The data analysis revealed that Np decreased to the point where the constant speed unit (CSU) feather valve dumped oil pressure, and the propeller feathered. Engine torque then rapidly increased above the 5,100 ft-lbs limitation. Shortly after the propeller feathered, there was a rapid increase in fuel flow and engine torque, consistent with the pilot moving the power lever full forward with the propeller still feathered. The gas generator speed (Ng) and fuel flow remained relatively constant and the engine torque remained above 6,600 ft-lbs until the engine was shut down after the accident.

NTSB Probable Cause

The pilot’s inadvertent use of the propeller control, which caused the propeller to feather while in flight with the engine still operating, resulting in a loss of thrust and a subsequent forced landing.

Full Narrative

On July 18, 2017, about 1710 central daylight time, an Air Tractor AT-802A airplane, N816FF, was substantially damaged in an accident near Reyno, Arkansas. The commercial pilot was not injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 135 aerial-application flight. The pilot reported that, after an uneventful spray flight, he was maneuvering to land on private airstrip when he noticed an increase in engine torque shortly after he made a power reduction. The pilot recalled that the engine torque increased to about 6,000 ft-lbs and the propeller speed decreased to about 710 rpm. The pilot stated that he “looked at my levers and pushed the prop lever all the way forward.” The pilot stated that there was insufficient thrust to maintain altitude and that he made a forced landing in an open soybean field. The airplane’s left wing impacted the ground during landing and the airplane skidded sideways to a stop. The right wingtip, right aileron, and right elevator were substantially damaged. Examination of the airplane at the accident site confirmed flight control continuity. The power lever was at idle, the propeller lever was in feather, and the start control (condition lever) was in cut-off. Engine control continuity was confirmed from the cockpit levers to their respective engine components, and the engine controls moved smoothly through their full range of motion. The bleed air reference line between the fuel control unit (FCU) and the constant speed unit (CSU) was properly installed and secured. A fuel sample from the header tank did not exhibit any contamination and was consistent with Jet-A aviation fuel. Both wing tanks contained fuel, and the engine monitor indicated that there were 55.5 gallons and 142 gallons remaining in the left and right fuel tanks, respectively. The airframe fuel lines were intact and did not exhibit any leaks. The FCU filter housing was removed, and it contained fuel. The propeller remained attached to the engine and appeared to be undamaged. The propeller beta system was found properly rigged; the beta plunger valve was flush with the cap nut, and the beta block was properly seated under the guide pin in the propeller beta ring. The engine was removed from the airplane and sent to the manufacturer for additional examination. A teardown inspection of the engine did not reveal any evidence of mechanical malfunction or failure that would have precluded normal engine operation. The clearance between the propeller shaft and the propeller sleeve met the manufacturer’s design limits and the dimensions between the propeller shaft and the internal oil transfer tube/oil jet were within specifications. Bench testing of the engine-driven fuel pump, flow divider, FCU, compressor bleed valve, CSU (propeller governor), and overspeed governor did not reveal any anomalies that would have precluded normal engine operation. An analysis of the airplane’s engine monitor data (see figure 1) revealed that toward the end of the flight, between 1708:44 to 1709:19, the propeller speed (Np) decreased at three separate rates, consistent with the cockpit propeller lever being moved aft at three different rates. The aft movement of the propeller control increased propeller pitch which, in turn, decreased Np. The data analysis also indicated that as Np decreased, there was a corresponding increase in engine torque. Between 1708:45 and 1708:58, the Np decreased from 92% to 84% and there was a 10% decrease in thrust. Between 1708:58 and 1709:14, the Np continued to decrease from 84% to 65% and there was another 10% decrease in thrust. At 1709:14, the Np had decreased to 62% (1,060 rpm) at which point the CSU feather valve dumped oil pressure from the propeller causing it to feather. Postaccident bench testing of the CSU confirmed that the feather valve would dump oil pressure at 1,060 rpm. When the propeller went into feather, the engine torque rapidly increased above the 5,100 ft-lbs limitation. At 1709:25, there was a rapid increase in fuel flow and engine torque, consistent with the pilot moving the power lever full forward with the propeller still feathered. At 1709:28, the engine torque reached 6,920 ft-lbs. The gas generator speed (Ng) and fuel flow remained relatively constant and the engine torque remained above 6,600 ft-lbs until the engine was shut down after the accident. Figure 1 – Engine Monitor Data

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time17:10 CDT
Nearest Airport0nm
Flight Plan FiledNone
Flight Plan ActivatedNo
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftAir Tractor AT802 A
Tail NumberN816FF
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageSubstantial
OperatorC & C Flying Service
Operating RulePart 137
Engines1
Engine TypeTurboprop
Engine DetailsPratt & Whitney Canada · PT6A-65AG · Turboprop · 1295
Seats1

People & Injuries

Injury SummaryNo injuries (1 uninjured)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured1
Total1
Crew 1Age 49 · Second Class · None

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind160° @ 5 kt
Visibility10 sm
CeilingNone
Altimeter30.05 inHg
Observation Time22:15
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data