20040526007819A

Accident · Substantial damage

FAA accident report · Airtrc AT-502B · Tarzan, TX · May 26, 2004

Date: May 26, 2004 · 11:30 local
Place: Tarzan, TX
Airport: Private
Phase of flight: Takeoff Ground Roll
Operating rules: Agricultural (Part 137)
Operator: CF7G
Damage: Substantial damage
Aircraft: N61407
NTSB investigation: NTSBFTW04CA141
Reported as: Airtrc AT502B
People aboard: 1
Fatal injuries: 0
Pilot’s flight hours: 3,370 total910 in this make and model210 in the last 90 days

N61407Registration cancelled Mar 14, 2006 · Air Tractor AT-502BS/N 502B-0313 · Built 1995 Airframe modelAir Tractor AT-502B Engine modelPratt & Whitney PT6A 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.

(-23) On may 26, 2004, at approximately 1130 hours CDT, N61407, an air tractor 502B, serial number 502B-0313, took off from the cooper flying services' Private strip, located north of Tarzan, Texas. Just after takeoff the aircraft began to settle back on the ground. The pilot emptied the load of herbicide, but was still unable to gain altitude. The right wing of the aircraft hit on the edge of the field at the end of the runway bending the wing to approximately 45 degree angle. The left main gear then slammed into the ground causing the gear leg bolts and the gear retaining saddle to let go and the gear departed the aircraft. The aircraft turned 180 degrees after the gear leg departed the aircraft damaging the left wing and the left aileron was torn from the aircraft. The tail wheel hit the ground and was also ripped from the aircraft. Also, the rudder and an elevator trim tab were torn from the aircraft. The propeller hit the ground at some point during the accident.

As the FAA filed it

(-23) ON MAY 26, 2004, AT APPROXIMATELY 1130 HOURS CDT, N61407, AN AIR TRACTOR 502B, SERIAL NUMBER 502B-0313, TOOK OFF FROM THE COOPER FLYING SERVICES' PRIVATE STRIP, LOCATED NORTH OF TARZAN, TEXAS. JUST AFTER TAKEOFF THE AIRCRAFT BEGAN TO SETTLE BACK ON THE GROUND. THE PILOT EMPTIED THE LOAD OF HERBICIDE, BUT WAS STILL UNABLE TO GAIN ALTITUDE. THE RIGHT WING OF THE AIRCRAFT HIT ON THE EDGE OF THE FIELD AT THE END OF THE RUNWAY BENDING THE WING TO APPROXIMATELY 45 DEGREE ANGLE. THE LEFT MAIN GEAR THEN SLAMMED INTO THE GROUND CAUSING THE GEAR LEG BOLTS AND THE GEAR RETAINING SADDLE TO LET GO AND THE GEAR DEPARTED THE AIRCRAFT. THE AIRCRAFT TURNED 180 DEGREES AFTER THE GEAR LEG DEPARTED THE AIRCRAFT DAMAGING THE LEFT WING AND THE LEFT AILERON WAS TORN FROM THE AIRCRAFT. THE TAIL WHEEL HIT THE GROUND AND WAS ALSO RIPPED FROM THE AIRCRAFT. ALSO, THE RUDDER AND AN ELEVATOR TRIM TAB WERE TORN FROM THE AIRCRAFT. THE PROPELLER HIT THE GROUND AT SOME POINT DURING THE ACCIDENT.

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 FTW04CA141Accident · No injuriesData collectionFinal reportTarzan, TXThe pilot's failure to maintain proper airspeed suitable for flight. Contributing factors were the high density altitude and tail wind condition.May 26, 2004 · Substantial damage