Probable cause
The failure of a bearing in the fuel control unit, which resulted in fuel starvation and a total loss of engine power.
NTSB analysis
A total loss of airplane engine power occurred shortly after the pilot took off for the aerial application flight. The pilot made a forced landing in a corn field, which resulted in substantial damage to the left wing. A postaccident examination of the engine revealed a bearing inside the fuel control unit had failed, which resulted in the loss of engine power due to fuel starvation. The fuel control unit was overhauled 928 hours before the accident. The manufacturer's recommended time between overhauls for the fuel control unit is 3,500 hours.
Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for CEN13LA568 for the full record.
Event
- Date
- Aug 28, 2013
- Type
- Accident
- Place
- Gould, Arkansas
- Highest injury
- None
- Weather
- Visual (VMC)
- Light
- Day
Air Tractor Inc AT 802
- N-number
- N9119B
- Category
- Airplane
- Year built
- 2000
- Damage
- Substantial
- Operating rule
- Part 137 (agricultural)
- Purpose of flight
- Aerial application
From the NTSB aviation accident database: N-registered aircraft, events since 2008, data through Oct 28, 2026. The file is published monthly, so the latest weeks are incomplete and recent records can change. The official source is the NTSB aviation investigation search. CheckAero is independent and not affiliated with the NTSB.