Air Tractor AT-402B N6078W

Summary

On 17 April 2003 at about 17:10 local time, a Air Tractor AT-402B registered N6078W was involved in an accident near Taft, 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 April 2003 at 17:10

Classification

Accident

Location

Taft, Texas, United States

Coordinates

28.0394, -97.5425

Aircraft

Air Tractor AT-402B

Registration

N6078W

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 137: Agricultural

Purpose of flight

Aerial Application

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Taft → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

FTW03LA133

Nobody was injured.

The partial loss of engine power resulting from a leaking fuel transfer tube following inadequate maintenance by unknown personnel. A contributing factor was the furrowed terrain encountered during the forced landing.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

During the takeoff/initial climb from the private airstrip, the engine "power reduced to 70 percent." The pilot turned into the wind for the forced landing; however, ended up landing perpendicular to the furrows in a cultivated field. Visual inspection of the engine by the FAA inspector revealed that the fuel transfer tube migrated out of the fuel adapter resulting in fuel leak and power loss, the "O" ring was protruding from the fuel adapter, and the lock plate at the #5 adapter was found bent and distorted. Fuel leakage at the fuel transfer tube was confirmed by running the engine and observing the leaking fuel. The engine did not develop power above 72 percent Ng. The fuel transfer tube was secured in its proper position, and the engine developed full power. A review of the maintenance records by the FAA inspector revealed that the nozzles had accumulated 111 hours time in service, and the maintenance entry for the last annual/100 hour inspection did not reveal any leaks or discrepancies.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.