Accident Overview
On August 26, 2010, at approximately 1035 central daylight time, an Air Tractor AT-401, registration N4530L, sustained substantial damage during a forced landing to a field near Castroville, Texas. The aerial applications flight was operating under 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 137 without a flight plan. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time. The commercial pilot was not injured. The flight had departed D'Hanis, Texas, around 1000.
Sequence of Events
According to a written statement from the pilot, he was pitching the airplane up to reverse direction when the "engine spooled down." The pilot leveled the aircraft and attempted to restart the engine, but was unsuccessful. During the subsequent forced landing, the airplane struck several trees and bushes.
Aircraft Damage
The impact resulted in several ribs in the right wing being crushed aft and bent, and the right wing spar was bent aft. The aircraft was substantially damaged.
Engine Examination
A Federal Aviation Administration inspector who traveled to the scene and was present during the engine examination reported that the torque sensor bearing failed, which led to the shutdown of the fuel system.