Air Tractor AT-502 N318BR

Summary

On 24 April 2003 at about 15:30 local time, a Air Tractor AT-502 registered N318BR was involved in an accident near Sedan, New Mexico, United States. One person was on board and one had minor injuries. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

24 April 2003 at 15:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Sedan, New Mexico, United States

Coordinates

36.1181, -103.0644

Aircraft

Air Tractor AT-502

Registration

N318BR

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 137: Agricultural

Purpose of flight

Aerial Application

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Dalhart → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

DEN03LA077

1 person had minor injuries.

the nonmechanical partial loss of engine power due to water contamination of the fuel. Contributing factors include the lack of suitable terrain for a forced landing (due to his low altitude), and the irrigation system (object) that was impacted.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot said the airplane refueling process took a very long time, due to the slow rate of fuel transfer. He drained 2 to 3 gallons of fuel from each tank to check for contamination. While descending from 1,200 feet to 150 feet agl, he looked down at a map on his lap to verify which field was to be sprayed. The pilot said the engine began losing power, dropping from 80 pounds of torque to 40 pounds of torque. He noticed the loss of power when he attempted to level off, and the airplane was near a stall. He dumped the chemical, and pushed the power lever full forward, with no increase in power noted. The pilot performed a forced landing straight ahead due to his low altitude, and impacted a rotating irrigation system in a wheat field. The airplane was substantially damaged. Postimpact examination revealed water in the fuel filters on the airplane's engine and on the refueling system. Water was also found in the airplane's right fuel tank and in the source fuel tank.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.