Air Tractor AT-301 N4421S

Summary

On 9 June 2013 at about 00:00 local time, a Air Tractor AT-301 registered N4421S, operated by Terhune Flying Service Inc, was involved in an accident near Farnsworth, 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

9 June 2013 at 00:00

Classification

Accident

Location

Farnsworth, Texas, United States

Coordinates

36.3211, -100.9664

Aircraft

Air Tractor AT-301

Registration

N4421S

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Terhune Flying Service Inc

Operating rule

Part 137: Agricultural

Purpose of flight

Aerial Application

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Farnsworth → Farnsworth

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

CEN13LA341

Nobody was injured.

The partial loss of engine power for reasons that could not be determined because the postaccident engine examination revealed no anomalies.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot of the agricultural airplane reported that, as he was beginning a spray pass, the airplane sustained a partial loss of engine power. He attempted to dump his chemical load but was unable to maintain altitude and executed a forced landing to a field. He said that the engine continued to run smoothly but at a reduced power setting during the event. Postaccident examination of the engine revealed no anomalies that would explain the partial loss of engine power. The temperature and dew point were within a range of susceptibility for carburetor icing during glide and cruise power settings. However, the sudden reduction of power with the engine continuing to run smoothly described by the pilot was not consistent with the gradual reduction in power and rough running typically associated with carburetor icing.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.