Casualties unknown

2002-04-15: Air Tractor AT-502 (N91905) — Lamesa, TX

Lamesa, TX, US

On April 15, 2002, an Air Tractor AT-502 (registration N91905) was involved in an aviation accident near Lamesa, TX. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The loss of engine power due to contamination of the fuel system. A contributing 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.

Sourcesthe U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archivePrimary reportUpdated 1781061362Data APIEditorial standards

A pilot reported engine power loss after reducing throttle to cruise power. During forced landing, aircraft nosed over. Engine examination revealed fuel contamination and nozzle obstruction.

Incident Summary

A pilot with 22,894 hours of flight experience reported that after a "normal" takeoff, he reduced the throttle to cruise power, and the "engine started losing power." Subsequently, during a forced landing, the aircraft nosed over and came to rest in an inverted position.

Engine Examination Findings

An examination of the engine was conducted by a Pratt & Whitney representative. The inspection revealed dirt and water contamination in the P3 air filter, the low pressure fuel pump filter, and the fuel line between the fuel control unit (FCU) and the oil/fuel heat exchanger.

The 14 fuel nozzles were removed and flow checked. One nozzle met the manufacturer's specifications, one nozzle was completely obstructed, and the remaining 12 nozzles displayed "varying degrees of streaking."

Conclusion

The source does not state a probable cause for the power loss event.

Investigation report by the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive. Original record: https://carol.ntsb.gov/event/20020417X00525. This page is a structured re-presentation; facts and quotes are in the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), United States.