Private Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Williams, California 95987
Tuesady, November 8, 2011 14:15 PST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot reported that during the takeoff initial climb from a private airstrip, the engine began to surge, and erratic propeller rpm and engine torque readings were displayed on the engine instruments. The pilot initiated a 180-degree turn back to the departure airport, and about halfway through the turn, the engine lost complete power. The pilot initiated a forced landing in the direction of the departure airport and landed hard. A postaccident examination of the airframe and turbine engine revealed no evidence of mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. The engine was subsequently removed from the airframe and installed on an engine test stand. The engine was run at various power settings with no anomalies noted.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

A total loss of engine power during takeoff initial climb for reasons that could not be determined because postaccident examination did not reveal any anomalies that would have precluded normal operation.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 11/8/2011
Event Day of the Week Tuesday
Time of Event 1415
Event Time Zone Pacific Standard Time
Event City Williams
Event State CALIFORNIA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 95987
Event Date Year 2011
Event Date Month 11
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 390846N
Event Location Longitude 1222114W
Event Location Airport Private
Event Location Nearest Airport ID --
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles 0
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation 93
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1353 Pacific Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 90
Weather Observation Facility ID MYV
Elevation of weather observation facility 65
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 37
Time Zone of the weather observation PST
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height --
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 15
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 5
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 280
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 3
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30.3
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report METAR KMYV 082153Z AUTO 28003KT 10SM CLR 15/05 A30
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) 31804
NTSB Notification Source FAA Operations Center
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information --
Date of most recent change to record Aug 28 2013 6:10PM
User who most recently changed record stam
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N325BR
NTSB Number WPR12LA032
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
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 INC
Aircraft Model AT-602
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 602-1147
Certified Max Gross Weight 12500
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class --
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 2
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection 100 Hour
Date of Last Inspection Jul 15 2011 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 2
Airframe Hours 2034
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type Unknown
Aircraft Owner Name PACIFIC VALLEY AVIATION INC
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City ARBUCKLE
Aircraft Owner State CA
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 95912-0247
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name PACIFIC VALLEY AVIATION INC
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address --
Operator City ARBUCKLE
Operator State CA
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 95912-0247
Operator Code --
Owner has at least one certificate Yes - certificate holder
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
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 Observation
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code --
Departure City Williams
Departure State CA
Departure Country USA
Departure Time --
Departure Time Zone PST
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code --
Destination City Williams
Destination State CA
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Aug 28 2013 6:11PM
User who most recently changed record stam
Since inspection or accident Last Inspection
Event Location Runway Number and Location 36
Runway Length 2000
Runway Width 100
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --