# Accident 20050204007329A: Airtrc AT401, Calexico, CA, February 4, 2005

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: February 4, 2005, 13:30 local time
- Place: Calexico, CA
- Airport: Johnson Brothers Airport
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Level Off Touchdown
- Operating rules: Agricultural (Part 137)
- Location: 32.6733° N, 115.5589° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.6733&lon=-115.5589&mi=10
- Aircraft: N4530L, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4530L-2012-01-25) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Air Tractor AT-401 (registry code 0390204, https://openairdocs.org/model/air-tractor-at-401) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: AIRTRC AT401
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB LAX05LA085](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX05LA085) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20050204007329A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

(-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.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB LAX05LA085](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX05LA085), Feb 4, 2005: Air Tractor AT-401 (N4530L), Calexico, CA, substantial damage. Probable cause: a loss of directional control due to a jammed rudder pedal, which prevented the pilot from exercising full rudder control authority.

## Other reports on N4530L (1)

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

- [Accident 20100826043649A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20100826043649A), Aug 26, 2010: Air Tractor AT-401 (N4530L), Castroville, TX, Substantial damage. During aerial application the engine lost power. Pilot landed aircraft on adjacent field and struck some trees causing major damage to the wings. No other…

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft 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. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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