Aviation Accident Summary FTW95LA211

LISSIE, TX, USA

Aircraft #1

N4554R

AIR TRACTOR AT-502

Analysis

THE AGRICULTURAL AIRPLANE EXECUTED A FORCED LANDING AFTER A PARTIAL LOSS OF ENGINE POWER DURING TAKEOFF FROM A PRIVATE AIRSTRIP. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT THE ENGINE WAS PERFORMING 'NORMALLY' DURING THE INITIAL TAKEOFF ROLL; HOWEVER, 'AFTER THE TAIL CAME UP, THE ENGINE STARTED LOSING POWER.' HE FURTHER REPORTED THAT THE AIRPLANE COULD NOT SUSTAIN FLIGHT AND COLLIDED WITH A BERM BEYOND THE DEPARTURE END OF THE RUNWAY. THE AIRPLANE CAME TO REST UPRIGHT IN A RICE FIELD AND THE WINGS WERE STRUCTURALLY DAMAGED. EXAMINATION OF THE ENGINE AND FUEL CONTROL DID NOT REVEAL ANY ANOMALIES AND THE CAUSE OF THE LOSS OF POWER COULD NOT BE DETERMINED.

Factual Information

On May 20, 1995, approximately 1620 central daylight time, an Air Tractor AT-502, N4554R, was substantially damaged during a forced landing after take off from a private airstrip near Lissie, Texas. The commercial pilot was not injured. The airplane, owned and operated by the pilot, was being operated under 14 CFR Part 137 when the accident occurred. No flight plan was filed and visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the aerial application flight. The pilot reported that the engine was "performing normally" during the initial take off roll; however, "after the tail came up, the engine started losing power." He then started to "dump the load" and noticed that the "torque was down to 1200 lbs." He further reported that the airplane could not sustain flight and collided with a berm beyond the departure end of the runway, coming to rest upright in a rice field. Examination of the airplane at the site by a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector revealed structural damage to the wings, and sheared main landing gear. Examination of the engine and fuel control at Aviall, Dallas, Texas, did not reveal any anomalies.

Probable Cause and Findings

THE PARTIAL LOSS OF ENGINE POWER FOR UNDETERMINED REASONS. A FACTOR WAS THE LACK OF SUITABLE TERRAIN FOR A FORCED LANDING.

 

Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database

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