Air Tractor AT-401 N4508Y

Summary

On 19 May 2004 at about 11:45 local time, a Air Tractor AT-401 registered N4508Y was involved in an accident near San Angelo, Texas, United States. One person was on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

19 May 2004 at 11:45

Classification

Accident

Location

San Angelo, Texas, United States

Coordinates

31.3750, -100.4553

Aircraft

Air Tractor AT-401

Registration

N4508Y

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 137: Agricultural

Purpose of flight

Unknown

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

San Angelo → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

VMC

Light

Dawn

NTSB number

FTW04LA130

Nobody was injured.

The loss of engine power for undetermined reasons. A contributing factor was the soft terrain encountered during the aborted takeoff.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

During takeoff for an aerial application flight, the engine gradually lost power. The pilot aborted the takeoff, and the airplane veered into a soft wheat field. Examination of the airplane revealed fuel was observed at the fuel pump, the throttle and mixture linkages were intact, and engine continuity was established by rotating the propeller through by hand. Examination of the carburetor revealed the top housing flange was bent which resulted in an air leak. The cotter key was missing from the economizer stud and the stud was adjusted too a full rich setting at some time between the overhaul and the accident. The fuel inlet screen, float bowl, and inlet needle were free and clear of contaminants. The reason for the loss of engine power was not determined.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.