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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.

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NTSB Report

August 4, 2021 · Air Tractor AT-602 · N455LA

Mer Rouge, LA

Overview

Report Status
Final with probable cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
August 4, 2021
Injury Outcomes
1 injury (1 minor injury)
Location
Mer Rouge, LA
Aircraft
Air Tractor AT-602 (2020)
Tail Number
N455LA
Injuries
Minor
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
CEN21LA357

The accident occurred on the third aerial application flight of the day. Ground support personnel stated they loaded the airplane with about 480 gallons of insecticide and fertilizer, and about 60 gallons of Jet A-1 fuel, which increased the total fuel load to about 160 gallons prior to takeoff. Shortly after rotation, the airplane engine lost power. The pilot conducted a forced landing to a field. During the forced landing, the airplane impacted a soybean field and came to rest upright. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage and wings. Postaccident examination of the airplane’s intact fuel system and the accident site found no evidence of fuel. The investigation revealed that the ground personnel and the pilot thought the airplane contained about 160 gallons of fuel prior to takeoff; however, based on the available evidence, it is likely the airplane did not contain fuel, and the engine lost power due to fuel exhaustion.

NTSB Probable Cause

The total loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion. Contributing to the accident was the pilot and ground personnel’s miscalculation of available fuel.

Full Narrative

On August 4, 2021, about 1520 central daylight time, an Air Tractor AT-602, N455LA, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Mer Rouge, Louisiana. The pilot sustained minor injuries. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 137 aerial application flight. The pilot reported the accident occurred on the third aerial application flight of the day. Ground support personnel loaded the airplane with about 480 gallons of insecticide and fertilizer, and about 60 gallons of Jet A-1 fuel, which increased the total fuel load to about 160 gallons prior to takeoff. Shortly after rotation, the airplane engine lost power. The pilot conducted a forced landing to a field. During the forced landing, the airplane impacted a soybean field and came to rest upright. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage and wings (see figure 1.) Figure 1. Accident Airplane (Source: law enforcement) According to a Federal Aviation Administration inspector, the airplane’s fuel system was intact, and the wing fuel tanks did not appear to contain any fuel. No evidence of fuel was found at the accident site. In addition, the operator did not have a recordkeeping system of fuel distribution at the refueling location. According to the airplane recovery personnel, the chemical hopper had contained a puncture hole that leaked into one of the fuel tanks. During the recovery process, about 7 to 8 gallons of a fuel/chemical mixture was drained from the fuel tanks. There was no evidence of about 160 gallons of fuel at the accident site or in the airplane fuel tanks.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time15:20 CDT
Nearest Airport0nm
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftAir Tractor AT-602
Tail NumberN455LA
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageSubstantial
Operating RulePart 137
Engines1
Engine TypeTurboprop
Engine DetailsPratt & Whitney · PT-6A-65AG · Turboprop · 1350
Seats2

People & Injuries

Injury Summary1 injury (1 minor injury)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor1
Uninjured0
Total1
Crew 1Age 37 · Second Class · None

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind60° @ 8 kt
Visibility10 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point66 F
Altimeter30.02 inHg
Observation Time15:53
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data