AIR TRACTOR INC AT 802

Full Narrative

On August 28, 2013, at 0745 central daylight time, an Air Tractor AT-802 airplane, N9119B, collided with the terrain following a loss of engine power on takeoff from a private airstrip in Gould, Arkansas. The commercial pilot was not injured. The airplane received substantial damage to the airframe. The airplane was registered to and operated by Triple J Flying Service as a 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 137 aerial application flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the flight, which was not operating on a flight plan. The local flight originated from a private airstrip in Gould, Arkansas, just prior to the accident.

The pilot stated that he departed his private airstrip and climbed to an altitude of 100 feet above ground level at which time the engine lost power. He attempted to restart the engine, but was not able to regain any power. The pilot landed the airplane in a corn field. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing.

A postaccident examination of the engine revealed a bearing inside the fuel control unit, part number 8063-032-01, had failed resulting in fuel starvation to the engine. The fuel control unit was installed on the engine on January 11, 2011 and was last overhauled 928 hours prior to the accident. According to the overhaul facility, the manufacturers recommended time between overhaul for the fuel control unit is 3,500 hours.