Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Holly Bluff, Mississippi 39088
Saturday, August 22, 1998 11:15 CDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot reported that he had been flying about forty five minutes on this load of fuel, and estimated that he had in excess of one hour of fuel remaining. While on the first swath run climb out from a field, the engine lost power. The pilot also reported that as the engine lost power, black smoke was seen coming from the exhaust. According to the pilot, the only available emergency landing area was straight ahead. During the post-accident examination of the engine assembly, the engine was started, it ran roughly, and produced black smoke. Further examination disclosed that fuel pressure supplied by the engine driven fuel pump was not being maintained in the pressure carburetor. According to a local mechanic assisting in the examination, the loss of fuel pressure in the carburetor is normally associated with a defective needle assembly in the carburetor. According to the operator, the maintenance records showed that the engine assembly had accumulated 1150 hours of service since the last overhaul. The recommended time between engine overhauls is 1200 hours. The engine maintenance records also failed to show if the carburetor had been overhauled since the last engine overhaul.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The malfunction of the carburetor which resulted in improper fuel flow to the engine.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 8/22/1998
Event Day of the Week Saturday
Time of Event 1115
Event Time Zone Central Daylight Time
Event City HOLLY BLUFF
Event State MISSISSIPPI
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 39088
Event Date Year 1998
Event Date Month 8
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1154 Central Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 145
Weather Observation Facility ID JAN
Elevation of weather observation facility 346
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 30
Time Zone of the weather observation CDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 32
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 16
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 0
Variable Wind Indicator Variable
Wind Speed (knots) 6
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30
Density Altitude (feet) 1300
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 1
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 1387
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Aug 22 1998 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1430
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 11 2000 11:41AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N10103
NTSB Number ATL98LA117
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 137: Agricultural
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Air Tractor
Aircraft Model 401
Aircraft Series Identifier 401
Aircraft Serial Number 401-0709
Certified Max Gross Weight 6000
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 1
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Mar 21 1998 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 383
Airframe Hours 4712
ELT Installed No
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name PRODUCERS FLYING INC,.
Aircraft Owner Street Address 4042 HWY 16 WEST
Aircraft Owner City YAZOO CITY
Aircraft Owner State MS
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 39194
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address
Operator City
Operator State
Operator Country
Operator Zip code
Operator Code
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation Unknown
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not Unknown
Indicates Domestic or International Flight Unknown
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail Unknown
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Aerial Application
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code NONE
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 1030
Departure Time Zone CDT
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code
Destination City
Destination State
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Maneuvering
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:34AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 0
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --