Air Tractor AT 301 N7309Z

Summary

On 5 May 2014 at about 14:00 local time, a Air Tractor AT 301 registered N7309Z, operated by Pro-Air LLC, was involved in an accident near Hessmer, Louisiana, 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

5 May 2014 at 14:00

Classification

Accident

Location

Hessmer, Louisiana, United States

Coordinates

31.0547, -92.1211

Aircraft

Air Tractor AT 301

Registration

N7309Z

Category

Airplane

Year built

1986

Engines

1

Operator

Pro-Air LLC

Operating rule

Part 137: Agricultural

Purpose of flight

Aerial Application

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Hessmer → Hessmer

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

CEN14LA229

Nobody was injured.

A partial loss of engine power for reasons that could not be determined because a full examination of the engine could not be performed.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot stated that the radial engine lost power as he approached a rice field that he was going to spray; he made a forced landing on a levee. The main landing gear hit a soft spot during the landing and the airplane veered off the road into a field, where it flipped inverted. Although the pilot suspected the blower had failed, the blower was not accessible for examination and no discrepancies were noted in the airplane's maintenance logbooks. The insurance company totaled the airplane and no further examination of the engine could be performed; accordingly, the reason for the loss of power could not be determined.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.