19981008028659A

Acft was involved in aerial application and had pulled up after dusting a field when the sun got in the pilots eyes and the acft struck a utility pole.(.19) on October 8, 1998, at 1730 central daylight time, an air tractor AT-502B agricultural airplane, N502S, registered to a private individual, sustained substantial damage following a loss of control near Ringling, Oklahoma. The commercial pilot, sole occupant of the aircraft, was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the title 14 CFR part 137 aerial application flight. The flight originated from the perry municipal airport at an unknown time. No flight plan had been filed. The pilot reported that while spraying a wheat field, he turned the airplane into the sun, temporarily lost his vision and flew into a power line and pole. The pilot added that he landed the aircraft in a pasture approximately one mile north of the field. Examination of the aircraft by an FAA inspector revealed that there was a hole in the upper-left side of the fuselage, the inboard portion of the left flap was bent upward, and the top half of the rudder was torn off. (.4) on October 8, 1998, approximately 1730 central daylight time, an air tractor AT-502B agricultural airplane, N502S, registered to a private individual and operated by superior ag-air of byers, Texas, collided with a power line while maneuvering near Ringling, Oklahoma. The airplane sustained substantial damage, and the commercial pilot, sole occupant of the aircraft, was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed for the title 14 CFR part 137 aerial application flight. The flight originated from the perry municipal airport, perry, Oklahoma, approximately 1615, and the intended destination was byers. The pilot reported that he was spraying a 20 acre wheat field with a double pole power line crossing the middle of the field. As he made a pass toward the west, the sun "obstructed" his vision, and he collided with a pair of poles and wires of the power line. The pilot landed the airplane in a pasture approximately one mile north of the field. Examination of the airplane by an FAA inspector revealed that there was a hole in the upper left side of the fuselage, the inboard portion of the left flap was bent upward, the left spray boom was partially separated, and the upper half of the rudder was torn off. The inspector located the separated portion of the rudder in the field that the airplane had been spraying. He reported that a power line ran diagonally across the north part of the field from northwest to southeast and was supported by pairs of poles approximately 60 feet tall. The upper crosspiece was separated from one pair of poles and lying on the power transmission wires, and the upper static wire was severed. (-23) pilot stated that he was dusting a field and turned into the sun which blinded him, and he hit a power pole which cut off part of his rudder, left spray boom, and damaged his left flap. He was able to make a forced landing in a clearing in a field approximately one mile north of where he hit the pole.