Air Tractor AT-602 N325BR
8 November 2011 · Williams, California, United States · No injuries
Summary
On 8 November 2011 at about 22:15 local time, a Air Tractor AT-602 registered N325BR, operated by Pacific Valley Aviation Inc, was involved in an accident near Williams, California, 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.
The record
- Date
- at 22:15
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- Williams, California, United States
- Nearest airport
- Private
- Coordinates
- 39.1461, -122.3539
- Aircraft
- Air Tractor AT-602
- Registration
- N325BR
- Category
- Airplane
- Engines
- 1
- Operator
- Pacific Valley Aviation Inc
- Operating rule
- Part 91: General Aviation
- Purpose of flight
- Aerial Observation
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Route
- Williams → Williams
- Aircraft damage
- Substantial
- Weather
- VMC
- Light
- Day
- NTSB number
- WPR12LA032
People
Nobody was injured.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
Probable cause
A total loss of engine power during takeoff initial climb for reasons that could not be determined because postaccident examination did not reveal any anomalies that would have precluded normal operation.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
The pilot reported that during the takeoff initial climb from a private airstrip, the engine began to surge, and erratic propeller rpm and engine torque readings were displayed on the engine instruments. The pilot initiated a 180-degree turn back to the departure airport, and about halfway through the turn, the engine lost complete power. The pilot initiated a forced landing in the direction of the departure airport and landed hard. A postaccident examination of the airframe and turbine engine revealed no evidence of mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. The engine was subsequently removed from the airframe and installed on an engine test stand. The engine was run at various power settings with no anomalies noted.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Other Air Tractor AT-602 accidents
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 26 Jul 2011 | Air Tractor AT-602 | Drew, Mississippi, United States | Sturdivant Brothers Flying Service Inc | Fatal | 1 |
| 8 Aug 2011 | Air Tractor AT-602 | Willcox, Arizona, United States | M & J Bailey Inc | Minor injuries | - |
| 17 Aug 2011 | Air Tractor AT-602 | Pine Bluffs, Wyoming, United States | - | Minor injuries | - |
| 25 Jul 2010 | Air Tractor AT-602 | Yates City, Illinois, United States | Har-Mor AG Air Inc | Minor injuries | - |
| 29 Jul 2010 | Air Tractor AT-602 | Canton, Mississippi, United States | AG Pilots Inc | Fatal | 1 |
| 14 Jun 2010 | Air Tractor AT-602 | Penrose, Arkansas, United States | Reynolds Flying Service Inc | Minor injuries | - |
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 28 Nov 2011 | Cessna 172K | Napa, California, United States | Stratus Aviation, LLC | No injuries | - |
| 26 Feb 2011 | Hiller UH-12E | Colusa, California, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 8 Jun 2011 | Cessna 172P | Palo Alto, California, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 27 Feb 2011 | Cessna A150M | Grass Valley, California, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 14 Jun 2011 | Grumman G-164A | Buttonwillow, California, United States | Vince Dusters, Inc. | No injuries | - |
| 26 Feb 2011 | Cessna 140A | Newark, California, United States | Morris Kenneth E | No injuries | - |