ASN Wikibase Occurrence # 173298
This information is added by users of ASN. Neither ASN nor the Flight Safety Foundation are responsible for the completeness or correctness of this information.
If you feel this information is incomplete or incorrect, you can submit corrected information.
| Date: | Thursday 11 March 2004 |
| Time: | 10:00 |
| Type: |  Rockwell S-2R Thrush Commander |
| Owner/operator: | Farm Aviation Inc. |
| Registration: | N8520V |
| MSN: | 2280R |
| Fatalities: | Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 1 |
| Aircraft damage: | Substantial |
| Category: | Accident |
| Location: | near Calipatria, California -
 United States of America
|
| Phase: | Take off |
| Nature: | Agricultural |
| Departure airport: | Calipatria, CA (KCLR) |
| Calipatria, CA (KCLR) | |
| Investigating agency: | NTSB |
| Confidence Rating: |  Accident investigation report completed and information captured |
The airplane experienced a total loss of engine power and ground looped during an off airport landing in a plowed field. Prior to takeoff, the pilot loaded the airplane with chemical application and had the left tank filled with fuel. After the airplane was airborne, he felt the engine lose power, but the instrument gauges showed normal indications. He decided to open the dump gate in an effort to release the chemical load, and prevent the airplane from stalling. The airplane lost complete power, and the pilot began to search for adequate terrain to land. During touchdown in a plowed field, the airplane bounced back into the air and veered to the left, crossing several field rows. During the second touchdown, the main wheels crossed the plowed furrows and the airplane ground looped. After the accident the pilot found out that prior to departure, the airplane was refueled with Jet-A fuel, as opposed to the required Avgas. While at the fuel island, a new employee had mistakenly filled the Avgas fuel truck with Jet-A fuel. The employee then used the Jet-A fuel in the truck to refuel the airplane. In an effort to help avoid similar problems, the operator has ordered new nozzles for the fueling points to help distinguish the Jet-A tank from Avgas tank. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane.
Probable Cause: the failure of ground personnel to refuel the airplane with the proper fuel grade/octane, resulting in the airplane's loss of engine power. Also causal was the pilot's failure to detect the fuel problem during a preflight inspection.
Accident investigation:
 |
|
Sources:
NTSB: https://www.ntsb.gov/_layouts/ntsb.aviation/brief.aspx?ev_id=20040325X00370&key=1
History of this aircraft
Other occurrences involving this aircraft
| 23 June 2011 | N8520V | Farm Aviation Inc | 0 | Near Brawley, CA | |
sub |
Location
Revision history:
| Date/time | Contributor | Updates |
|---|---|---|
| 26-Jan-2015 18:36 | Noro | Added |
| 26-Jan-2015 18:40 | harro | Updated [Aircraft type] |
| 26-Jan-2015 18:41 | harro | Updated [Aircraft type] |
| 21-Dec-2016 19:28 | ASN Update Bot | Updated [Time, Damage, Category, Investigating agency] |
| 07-Dec-2017 17:48 | ASN Update Bot | Updated [Other fatalities, Departure airport, Destination airport, Source, Narrative] |
Corrections or additions? ... Edit this accident description
The Aviation Safety Network is an exclusive service provided by:
Quick Links:
| ASN Home | Send Correction / Feedback |
| FSF Home | Disclaimer | Copyright |
| Contact Us | Privacy Policy |
| Press / Media |
CONNECT WITH US:
©2024 Flight Safety Foundation