Air Tractor AT-301 N4393S

Summary

On 26 July 1999 at about 20:30 local time, a Air Tractor AT-301 registered N4393S, operated by ANF Air Services, was involved in an accident near Victoria, 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

26 July 1999 at 20:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Victoria, Texas, United States

Coordinates

29.4491, -96.5102

Aircraft

Air Tractor AT-301

Registration

N4393S

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

ANF Air Services

Operating rule

Part 137: Agricultural

Purpose of flight

Aerial Application

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

FTW99LA204

Nobody was injured.

The separation of the engine cowling due to a fractured support bracket, which resulted in the cowling striking and bending four engine push rods causing a loss of engine power. 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 agricultural airplane was on its first swath run of a boll weevil eradication flight when the engine cowling separated and struck the propeller and engine. The engine lost power, and the pilot executed a forced landing to a cotton field. During the landing roll, the aircraft 'spun' around. The FAA inspector reported that the fractured engine cowling support bracket had a 'dull surface like it had been broken for a while.' Examination of the aircraft's engine revealed that four push rod tubes were bent.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.