Primary finding
Probable cause
Loss of engine power for an undetermined reason. A factor related to the accident was: failure of the pilot to use all available runway for takeoff.
Investigator assessment
Analysis narrative
The pilot began the aerial application flight by starting his takeoff from midfield, rather than using all of the runway. Moments after lift-off, the engine lost power. The pilot immediately jettisoned his load and made a forced landing straight ahead to a rice paddy. However, the main gear and right wing tip collided with a dirt bank/levy, and the airplane was damaged. No abnormality of the engine was found, and fuel was present in the carburetor bowl.
Source record
Factual narrative
On August 20, 1993, at about 1045 central daylight time, an Air Tractor AT-301, N3655G, registered to Jeff Jones, leased to Adams Flying Service, operating as a 14 CFR Part 137 aerial application flight crashed after sustaining a total loss of engine power at lift off. The airplane sustained substantial damage. The commercial pilot was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. The pilot departed from a private airstrip about 1 minute before the accident. The pilot stated in an interview with the NTSB investigator-in-charge that he departed to the north at midfield with about 5/10 of a mile of runway remaining. Upon reaching VLOF airspeed, the airplane became airborne and experienced a total loss of engine power. He immediately jettisoned his load and made a forced landing straight ahead to a rice paddy. The main gear and right wing tip collided with a dirt bank/levy. The airplane spun to the right 180 degrees and came to a complete stop upright. Examination of the airplane by an FAA Aviation Safety Inspector revealed the engine was free to turn with no abnormalities observed. Fuel was present in the carburetor bowl. -