Accident Details
On July 3, 2020, at about 1700 central daylight time, an Air Tractor AT-602 airplane, registration N602NY, was substantially damaged during a forced landing near Weldon, Arkansas. The pilot, who was uninjured, was conducting an aerial application flight under Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 137.
The pilot reported departing from a private airstrip with approximately 75 gallons of Jet A fuel and a load of dry granular fertilizer. The aerial application portion of the flight was uneventful. About 10 minutes into the flight, while returning to base at roughly 400 ft above ground level and 3 miles from the airstrip, the engine “spooled down” and the airplane experienced a total loss of engine power. The pilot could not restore power by moving the power and propeller levers to full forward, nor by activating the fuel boost pump and ignitors. He did not recall checking the cockpit engine gauges after the power loss. He made a forced landing in an open field, describing it as “firm,” but lost directional control. During the ground loop, the tailwheel separated, causing substantial damage to the aft fuselage.
Post-Accident Examination
Three days after the accident, before notifying the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) or the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), the pilot's aviation mechanic examined the airplane at the accident site to begin a repair estimate. The mechanic reported that ample fuel remained in the fuel tanks and that he was able to start and run the engine. The engine responded to power lever inputs, and propeller lever movement cycled the propeller without anomalies at 1,500 rpm. All observed engine parameters were nominal during the test run. The NTSB and FAA were subsequently notified.
The airplane was partially disassembled and recovered to a repair station. The recovery crew drained about 56 gallons of fuel from the wing tanks, evenly distributed between the two tanks.
Subsequent examination revealed no evidence of blockage, water, or significant particles in the fuel lines, fuel tank inlet screens, or fuel filters. The airplane's digital fuel management system indicated 50.3 gallons of fuel remained after the postaccident engine test run.
A second engine ground test was conducted with an FAA maintenance inspector present after the airframe repairs. The engine started and operated without anomalies. Additional testing of the mechanical airframe fuel pump, electric fuel boost pump, and engine Py line revealed no anomalies.
The engine had accrued 1,521.6 total hours since new and 141 hours since its last inspection on May 1, 2020.