# Accident 20120922021699A: Air Tractor Inc AT-502, Firebaugh, CA, September 22, 2012

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: September 22, 2012, 17:15 local time
- Place: Firebaugh, CA
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Takeoff: Climb Out
- Operating rules: Agricultural (Part 137)
- Operator: T9DG
- Location: 36.8064° N, 120.6222° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.8064&lon=-120.6222&mi=10
- Aircraft: N4556S, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4556S-2018-01-04) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Air Tractor AT-502 (registry code 0390303, https://openairdocs.org/model/air-tractor-at-502) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Pratt & Whitney PT6A series (registry code 52032, https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-pt6a-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: AIR TRACTOR INC AT-502
- Reported engine: P&W PT6A SER
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Airline transport, flight instructor
- Pilot flight hours: 10,837 total, 819 in this make and model, 119 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB WPR12LA433](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR12LA433) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20120922021699A

## Narrative

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

AT APROXIMATELY 5:10 PM THE PILOT WAS DEPARTING A PRIVATE AGRICULTERAL AIRSTRIP FOR THE FIRST SPRAYING APPLICATION FOR THE DAY.  THE AIRCRAFT WAS FULL OF FUEL AND HAD APPROXIMATELY 400 GALLONS OF CHEMICAL TO BE SPRAYED ON BOARD.  THE PILOT HAD NOT ASKED THE GROUND CREW TO FILL THE AIRCRAFT FUEL TANKS.  THE PILOT MADE THE DECISION TO TAKEOFF KNOWING THE AIRCRAFT HAD FULL FUEL AND 400 GALLONS OF CHEMICAL ON BOARD. ON DEPARTURE THE PILOT FELT THE AIRCRAFT WAS NOT PRODUCING SUFFICIENT POWER AND WAS TAKING LONGER THAN NORMAL TO BECOME AIRBORNE. THE PILOT SELECTED FULL FLAPS TO ASSIST WITH THE TAKEOFF AND SOON AFTER BECOMING AIRBORNE DETERMINED THE AIRCRAFT WAS NOT ABLE TO CONTINUE FLIGHT.  THE PILOT INITIATED AN EMERGENCY DUMP OF THE CHEMICALS TO RECOVER THE AIRCRAFT TO A MORE FAVORABLE WEIGHT AND AIRCRAFT CONFIGURATION.  THE AIRCRAFT PITCHED UP TO AN UNKNOWN ANGLE AND STALLED.  WHILE STALLED AND STILL IN A FORWARD MOTION THE AIRCRAFT PASSED THROUGH TWO OF THE THREE POWERLINES ONE HALF MILE EAST OF THE DEPARTURE AIRPORT.  THE AIRCRAFT IMPACTED THE GROUND APPROXIMATELY 400 FEET EAST OF THE POWERLINES AND CAME TO REST 200 FEET BEYOND THE INITIAL IMPACT SITE.  THE PILOT WAS NOT INJURED AND REMOVED HIMSELF FROM THE AIRCRAFT AFTER SHUTTING OFF THE FUEL AND BATTERY SOURCES.THE COMPANY HAD BEEN WAITING FOR THE RIGHT CONDITIONS TO SPRAY A COTTON FIELD WITH DEFOLIANT AND THIS DAY THE CONDITIONS WERE CORRECT FOR SPRAYING.  THE PILOT STATED THE WIND WAS FROM THE NORTH EAST AT APPROXIMATELY 2-3 KNOTS AND THE TEMPERATURE WAS ABOUT 89 DEGREES.

## 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 WPR12LA433](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR12LA433), Sep 22, 2012: Air Tractor AT-502 (N4556S), Firebaugh, CA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s decision to continue the takeoff after the engine stopped producing its full-rated torque while operating in high-density altitude conditions and his subsequent failure to maintain…

## Other reports on N4556S (1)

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

- [Incident 20030309002789I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20030309002789I), Mar 9, 2003: Airtrc AT502 (N4556S), Firebaugh, CA, Substantial damage. (-23) After a hurried preflight, during which an accurate determination of onboard fuel quantity was not accomplished, the aircraft was operated for…

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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