Monday, November 14, 2016

Weatherly 620B, Burkett Aerial Spraying, N2035J: Accident occurred November 12, 2016 in Coleman County, Texas

The National Transportation Safety Board did not travel to the scene of this accident. 

Additional Participating Entity: 
Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office;  Lubbock, Texas 

Aviation Accident Factual Report - National Transportation Safety Board: https://app.ntsb.gov/pdf 

Burkett Aerial Spraying: http://registry.faa.gov/N2035J

NTSB Identification: CEN17LA038
14 CFR Part 137: Agricultural
Accident occurred Saturday, November 12, 2016 in Coleman, TX
Aircraft: WEATHERLY AVIATION CO INC 620B, registration: N2035J
Injuries: 1 Uninjured.

NTSB investigators may not have traveled in support of this investigation and used data provided by various sources to prepare this aircraft accident report.

On November 12, 2016, about 1300 central standard time, a Weatherly Aviation Company 620B airplane, N2035J, was substantially damaged during a forced landing near Coleman, Texas. The pilot was not injured. The airplane was registered to and operated by Burkett Aviation under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 137 as an aerial spraying practice flight. Day visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the flight, with no flight plan filed. The local flight departed a private strip about 1200.

Flying his initial flight in the model of the accident airplane, the pilot stated that a total loss of engine power occurred during climb following a practice spray pass. The pilot executed a forced landing into an adjacent wheat field. Due to trees and a fence in the path of his rollout, he aggressively applied brake pressure, which resulted in a nose over and damage to the vertical stabilizer.

The owner had informed the pilot prior to takeoff that he needed to switch from left to right tank after flying for about 40 minutes. His advice was based on the engine's typical fuel burn of about 33 gallons per hour and fuel tank capacity of 35 gallons of each wing. The owner estimated the airplane was airborne for about one hour.

Examination of the airplane by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector and local mechanic revealed fuel leaking from a breached left tank, with the right tank intact and empty. The fuel selector was in the right tank position. After flipping the airplane upright, the propeller was rotated, with normal engine continuity. Fuel was added to the right tank and the engine was started. The engine ran for about 10 seconds and then stopped. Additional engine starts attempts were not successful, due to unavailability of a powered electrical source.

The right fuel tank low level warning light was tested and initially found to inoperable. After adjusting the sensor in the right fuel tank, the warning light operated normally. The owner stated the low fuel warning system had been intermittent during previous flights.

NTSB Identification: CEN17LA038
14 CFR Part 137: Agricultural
Accident occurred Saturday, November 12, 2016 in Coleman, TX
Aircraft: WEATHERLY AVIATION CO INC 620B, registration: N2035J
Injuries: 1 Uninjured.

This is preliminary information, subject to change, and may contain errors. Any errors in this report will be corrected when the final report has been completed. NTSB investigators may not have traveled in support of this investigation and used data provided by various sources to prepare this aircraft accident report.

On November 12, 2016, about 1300 central standard time, a Weatherly Aviation Company 620B airplane, N2035J, was substantially damaged during a forced landing near Coleman, Texas. The pilot was not injured. The airplane was registered to and operated by Burkett Aviation under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 137 as an aerial spraying flight. Day visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the flight, with no flight plan filed. The local flight departed a private airport about 1200. 


The pilot stated that a total loss of engine power occurred during climb and he executed a forced landing into an adjacent wheat field. Due to trees and a fence in the path of his rollout, the pilot aggressively applied brake pressure, which resulted in a nose over and damage to the vertical stabilizer.





COLEMAN COUNTY, TX -   The pilot of a crop duster airplane was able to walk away from the scene of a crash early Saturday afternoon in eastern Coleman County.

The pilot, whose name has not been released, refused treatment from EMS at the scene. The plane is registered to Burkett Aerial Spraying of Coleman County.

The plane went down in a field on a ranch. As of 2:00 pm Saturday, a Texas Department of Public Safety trooper and Coleman County Sheriff's Deputy had returned to the scene to investigate. 

The official cause of the crash is not known at this time.

Source:   http://www.everythinglubbock.com

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