Air Tractor AT-602 N4257R

Summary

On 14 June 2010 at about 14:15 local time, a Air Tractor AT-602 registered N4257R, operated by Reynolds Flying Service Inc, was involved in an accident near Penrose, Arkansas, 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

14 June 2010 at 14:15

Classification

Accident

Location

Penrose, Arkansas, United States

Coordinates

35.2278, -91.0931

Aircraft

Air Tractor AT-602

Registration

N4257R

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Reynolds Flying Service Inc

Operating rule

Part 137: Agricultural

Purpose of flight

Aerial Application

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Penrose → Penrose

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

CEN10LA353

1 person had minor injuries.

The loss of partial engine power due to a fatigue crack in the engine's fuel control bellows.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

While approximately 75 feet above the ground, the airplane experienced a partial loss of engine power. Unable to maintain altitude, the pilot performed a forced landing to a wet rice field. During the landing, the airplane impacted a dirt mound, nosed over, and came to rest inverted. During the postaccident engine examination, the fuel control unit was removed and a functional test of the unit performed. The test revealed that the fuel unit's evacuated bellows had developed a fatigue crack in the outer ply surface. This crack would have resulted in a reduced fuel flow to the engine and a subsequent loss of engine power. Laboratory analysis concluded that the crack had originated in an area of several corrosion pits. The cause of the corrosion could not be determined.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.