On June 2, 1982, an Air Tractor AT-301 (registration N4403S) operated by AG Air, Inc. was involved in an aviation accident near Ruyard, MT. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive; 2 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.
The aircraft's engine quit at 75 feet during takeoff. The pilot attributed the stoppage to water-contaminated fuel due to heavy rains. During the forced landing, the aircraft nosed over.
Incident Description
The aircraft was refueled before departure. According to the pilot, the takeoff was normal until reaching approximately 75 feet above the runway, at which point the engine ceased operation. The pilot executed a forced landing. During the landing, the aircraft touched down in a three-point attitude, bounced, then contacted the ground in a nose-down attitude and inverted.
Pilot's Account
The pilot attributed the engine stoppage to water contamination in the fuel supply. He reported experiencing problems with water accumulating in his fuel storage facility due to heavy rains. No other causes were provided in the report.