On March 15, 1996, an Air Tractor AT-502 (registration N4540C) was involved in an aviation accident near Texarkana, AR. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: a loss of engine power for undetermined reasons. A factor was the lack of suitable terrain for the forced landing. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.
During an application run, the engine lost power. The pilot reported insufficient field length, and the aircraft struck trees, stopping in a small field. Investigation revealed a foreign substance in the main fuel filter and a leaking fuel tank sump drain.
Incident Overview
During an agricultural application run, the aircraft's engine lost power. The pilot reported that there was not enough field remaining to land and that the aircraft could not clear the trees at the end of the field. Subsequently, the aircraft impacted the trees and came to rest in a small field.
Post-Accident Examination
Examination of the fuel system revealed a foreign substance in the main fuel filter. The fuel tank sump drain was observed to be leaking, and fuel was present in all fuel lines and the fuel control unit. A post-accident teardown of the engine was completed on April 4, 1996, and no anomalies were found that would have prevented normal engine operation.