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19980520010249A

Accident · Substantial damage
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FAA accident report · Airtrc AT-401 · Idaho Falls, ID · May 20, 1998

FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal

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Date
May 20, 1998 · 09:15 local
Place
Idaho Falls, ID
Phase of flight
Low Level Operations
Operating rules
Agricultural (Part 137)
Operator
HNBG
Damage
Substantial damage
Aircraft
N1009T
NTSB investigation
NTSBSEA98LA080
Reported as
Airtrc AT401
Reported engine
Pratt & Whitney R1340AN2
Fatal injuries
0
Pilot’s flight hours
9,882 total9 in this make and model12 in the last 90 days
N1009TRegistration cancelled Dec 8, 2006 · Air Tractor AT-401S/N 401-0707 · Built 1989Airframe modelAir Tractor AT-401Engine modelPratt & Whitney R1340 seriesReciprocating

From the FAA’s Accident/Incident Data System (AIDS), through its Aviation Safety Information Portal, as reported. The NTSB investigates accidents separately, and its record of an accident is the fuller one. The aircraft is matched to the registry by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

What happened

The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.

Acft struck a power line during aerial application, Idaho Falls, ID. (.4) according to the pilot, who was maneuvering near the power line while applying chemicals to a field, he had just rolled wings-level and descended for another pass when his left wing contacted the top wire of the power line. He said that he saw the line and thought he had clearance, but the aircraft's wing caught the wire near its tip. He reported that after colliding with the power line, the aircraft struck the ground in a 'cart-wheeling' motion. He further stated that he was accustomed to flying the AT-300, but that he had recently purchased the AT-401, and that this was his first application flight using the new aircraft. It was his opinion that the different size and sight-picture of the 401 had caused him to think he had more clearance from the wire than he actually had. (.4)according to the pilot, who was maneuvering near the power line while applying chemicals to a field, he had just rolled wings-level and descended for another pass when his left wing contacted the top wire of the power line. He said that he saw the line and thought he had clearance, but the aircraft's wing caught the wire near its tip. He reported that after colliding with the power line, the aircraft struck the ground in a 'cart-wheeling' motion. He further stated that he was accustomed to flying the AT-300, but that he had recently purchased the AT-401, and that this was his first application flight using the new aircraft. It was his opinion that the different size and sight-picture of the 401 had caused him to think he had more clearance from the wire than he actually had.

As the FAA filed it

ACFT STRUCK A POWER LINE DURING AERIAL APPLICATION, IDAHO FALLS, ID. (.4) ACCORDING TO THE PILOT, WHO WAS MANEUVERING NEAR THE POWER LINE WHILE APPLYING CHEMICALS TO A FIELD, HE HAD JUST ROLLED WINGS-LEVEL AND DESCENDED FOR ANOTHER PASS WHEN HIS LEFT WING CONTACTED THE TOP WIRE OF THE POWER LINE. HE SAID THAT HE SAW THE LINE AND THOUGHT HE HAD CLEARANCE, BUT THE AIRCRAFT'S WING CAUGHT THE WIRE NEAR ITS TIP. HE REPORTED THAT AFTER COLLIDING WITH THE POWER LINE, THE AIRCRAFT STRUCK THE GROUND IN A 'CART-WHEELING' MOTION. HE FURTHER STATED THAT HE WAS ACCUSTOMED TO FLYING THE AT-300, BUT THAT HE HAD RECENTLY PURCHASED THE AT-401, AND THAT THIS WAS HIS FIRST APPLICATION FLIGHT USING THE NEW AIRCRAFT. IT WAS HIS OPINION THAT THE DIFFERENT SIZE AND SIGHT-PICTURE OF THE 401 HAD CAUSED HIM TO THINK HE HAD MORE CLEARANCE FROM THE WIRE THAN HE ACTUALLY HAD. (.4)ACCORDING TO THE PILOT, WHO WAS MANEUVERING NEAR THE POWER LINE WHILE APPLYING CHEMICALS TO A FIELD, HE HAD JUST ROLLED WINGS-LEVEL AND DESCENDED FOR ANOTHER PASS WHEN HIS LEFT WING CONTACTED THE TOP WIRE OF THE POWER LINE. HE SAID THAT HE SAW THE LINE AND THOUGHT HE HAD CLEARANCE, BUT THE AIRCRAFT'S WING CAUGHT THE WIRE NEAR ITS TIP. HE REPORTED THAT AFTER COLLIDING WITH THE POWER LINE, THE AIRCRAFT STRUCK THE GROUND IN A 'CART-WHEELING' MOTION. HE FURTHER STATED THAT HE WAS ACCUSTOMED TO FLYING THE AT-300, BUT THAT HE HAD RECENTLY PURCHASED THE AT-401, AND THAT THIS WAS HIS FIRST APPLICATION FLIGHT USING THE NEW AIRCRAFT. IT WAS HIS OPINION THAT THE DIFFERENT SIZE AND SIGHT-PICTURE OF THE 401 HAD CAUSED HIM TO THINK HE HAD MORE CLEARANCE FROM THE WIRE THAN HE ACTUALLY HAD.

NTSB investigation

The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.

NTSB SEA98LA080Accident · Minor injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportIdaho Falls, IDThe pilot's failure to maintain clearance from a power transmission line during an aerial application flight. Factors include a power line located just beyond the boundary of the field being sprayed, and the pilot's incorrect judgement of the distance between…May 20, 1998 · Substantial damage

Other reports on N1009T · 1

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.

Accident 19930715024179ALow Level Operations · Dermott, ARLost power after last spray run. Landed flooded rice field. Nosed over. Master rod failure. Precrack.recent overhaulJul 15, 1993 · Substantial damage