20050204007329A

(-23) On feb. 4, 2005, at 1300 PST, an air tractor AT-401, N4530L, attempted to land at johnsons Brothers airport (61CL). The aircraft was empty. As the acft was about to touchdown the pilot experienced a crosswind (he estimates 8-10MPH). As the pilot applied the right rudder to correct for the crosswind, the pedal would not move. The acft veered to the left and struck a dirt bank and ditch. Damage to the aircraft was substantial. (The aircraft's tail was cut off for the purpose of transporting the aircraft). As the pilot sat in the aircraft after the accident, he realized he was still pushing the pedal. He looked at the pedal and observed that the rudder adjusting pin was contacting the aft edge of the hopper. Once he slightly released pressure on the pedal, it slid back to its fully deflected position. Investigation revealed the following findings. (1) that the adjusting pin was the correct pin. (2) the aircraft owner had sent the hopper to be re-glassed. The hopper was reinstalled in the aircraft. It appears the hopper may have either received an application of fiberglass that was too thick or the hopper was installed in the acft but was not centered during installation. This would have caused the pin to strike the hopper.