Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Taft, Texas 78390
Thursday, April 17, 2003 12:10 CDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

During the takeoff/initial climb from the private airstrip, the engine "power reduced to 70 percent." The pilot turned into the wind for the forced landing; however, ended up landing perpendicular to the furrows in a cultivated field. Visual inspection of the engine by the FAA inspector revealed that the fuel transfer tube migrated out of the fuel adapter resulting in fuel leak and power loss, the "O" ring was protruding from the fuel adapter, and the lock plate at the #5 adapter was found bent and distorted. Fuel leakage at the fuel transfer tube was confirmed by running the engine and observing the leaking fuel. The engine did not develop power above 72 percent Ng. The fuel transfer tube was secured in its proper position, and the engine developed full power. A review of the maintenance records by the FAA inspector revealed that the nozzles had accumulated 111 hours time in service, and the maintenance entry for the last annual/100 hour inspection did not reveal any leaks or discrepancies.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The partial loss of engine power resulting from a leaking fuel transfer tube following inadequate maintenance by unknown personnel. A contributing factor was the furrowed terrain encountered during the forced landing.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 4/17/2003
Event Day of the Week Thursday
Time of Event 1210
Event Time Zone Central Daylight Time
Event City Taft
Event State TEXAS
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 78390
Event Date Year 2003
Event Date Month 4
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 280222N
Event Location Longitude 0973233W
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 1151 Central Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 70
Weather Observation Facility ID CRP
Elevation of weather observation facility 44
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 15
Time Zone of the weather observation CDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 3000
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Few
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 9
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 29
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 19
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 30
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 10
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29.96
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report METAR KCRP 171751Z 03010KT 9SM FEW030 29/21 A2996
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 1
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 14269
NTSB Notification Source FAA Operations Center
NTSB Notification Date Apr 17 2003 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1340
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information DMS
Date of most recent change to record Nov 25 2003 11:36AM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\MONR
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office San Antonio, Texas

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N6078W
NTSB Number FTW03LA133
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 137: Agricultural
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? No
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Air Tractor
Aircraft Model AT-402B
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 402B-0972
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 Apr 9 2003 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 4
Airframe Hours 3701
ELT Installed No
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name Hunt's Ag Air Inc.
Aircraft Owner Street Address Route 1 Box 250
Aircraft Owner City Taft
Aircraft Owner State TX
Aircraft Owner Country --
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 78390
Operator is an individual? No
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 EVUG
Owner has at least one certificate --
Other Operator of large aircraft? --
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation Agriculture
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Aerial Application
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code --
Departure City Taft
Departure State TX
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1207
Departure Time Zone UTC
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 Takeoff - initial climb
Report sent to ICAO? No
Evacuation occurred Yes
Date of most recent change to record May 25 2004 1:09PM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\HAMG
Since inspection or accident Time of Accident
Event Location Runway Number and Location --
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --