# Accident 20130224003309A: Air Tractor Inc AT-301, Huntsville, AL, February 24, 2013

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: February 24, 2013, 14:45 local time
- Place: Huntsville, AL
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Maneuver
- Operating rules: Agricultural (Part 137)
- Operator: YT8G
- Location: 34.6708° N, 86.8431° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.6708&lon=-86.8431&mi=10
- Aircraft: N7310N, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N7310N-2022-05-03) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Air Tractor AT-301 (registry code 0390103, https://openairdocs.org/model/air-tractor-at-301) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Pratt & Whitney R1340 series (registry code 52016, https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-r1340-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: AIR TRACTOR INC AT-301
- Reported engine: P&W R1340 SERIES
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 7,042 total, 320 in this make and model, 10 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ERA13CA163](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA13CA163) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20130224003309A

## Narrative

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

ON FEBRUARY 24, 2013, ABOUT 1445 CENTRAL DAYLIGHT TIME, PILOT, ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ WAS OPERATING AN AIR TRACTOR, AT-301 AIRPLANE, N7310N,  PILOT STATED THAT WHILE MANUEVERING AIRCRAFT DURING AN AERIAL APPLICATION HE INADVERTENTLY HIT A TREE  WITH RIGHT WING TIP LEADING EDGE, DAMAGING FRONT SPAR AND INTERNAL STRUCTURE.  AIRPLANE LANDED SAFELY WITH SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE TO RIGHT WING AND NO INJURIES. THE PILOT DID NOT REPORT ANY PREEXISTING MECHANICAL ANOMALIES WITH THE AIRPLANE.

THE AIRPLANE WAS REGISTERED TO AND OPERATED BY TOWE BOY'S AGRI SERVICE, INC., UNDER THE PROVISIONS OF 14 CODE OF FEDERAL REGULATIONS PART 137, AS AN AGRICULTURAL APPLICATION FLIGHT.

## 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 ERA13CA163](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA13CA163), Feb 24, 2013: Air Tractor AT-301 (N7310N), Greenbrier, AL, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s failure to maintain adequate clearance from trees.

## Other reports on N7310N (2)

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

- [Incident 19950616026659I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19950616026659I), Jun 16, 1995: Airtrc AT301 (N7310N), Sardis, AL, Minor damage. Vibration. Had to power back spraying a field. Wing tips hit trees. Belt broke causing one blade to change pitch.
- [Accident 19870718035409A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19870718035409A), Jul 18, 1987: Airtrc AT301 (N7310N), Swiftown, MS, Substantial damage. The aircraft force landed in a cotton field due to engine vibration during a swath run. Crankshaft had failed.

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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