Air Tractor AT-402 N4523L

Summary

On 17 August 1999 at about 13:45 local time, a Air Tractor AT-402 registered N4523L was involved in an accident near Snyder, Texas, United States. One person was on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

17 August 1999 at 13:45

Classification

Accident

Location

Snyder, Texas, United States

Coordinates

32.7096, -100.9106

Aircraft

Air Tractor AT-402

Registration

N4523L

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 137: Agricultural

Purpose of flight

Aerial Application

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Snyder → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

FTW99LA226

Nobody was injured.

The loss of engine power due to fuel starvation as result of a leak in the engine fuel control. A factor was the lack of suitable terrain for the forced landing.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

The turbine powered agricultural airplane experienced a loss of engine power during an aerial application flight. The commercial pilot turned the airplane into the wind and lowered the flaps for a forced landing in a hay field. During the landing roll, the airplane collided with a terrace. A detailed examination of the aircraft fuel system revealed that fuel was present in both tanks and in the fuel lines. The FAA inspector stated that the top right bolt securing the fuel control assembly to the engine case was missing, and the remaining three bolts securing the fuel control were found loose. The missing bolt, with a piece of safety wire still attached to it, was found laying at the bottom of the engine cowling. Evidence of a 'severe fuel leak' was found at the base of the fuel control assembly.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.