# Accident 20161227020689A: Air Tractor Inc AT-602, Willows, CA, December 27, 2016

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: December 27, 2016, 16:00 local time
- Place: Willows, CA
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Landing: Approach
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Operator: AWNG
- Location: 39.5094° N, 122.2169° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.5094&lon=-122.2169&mi=10
- Aircraft: N602L, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N602L) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Air Tractor AT-602 (registry code 0390309, https://openairdocs.org/model/air-tractor-at-602) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-60A (registry code 52043, https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-canada-pt6a-60a) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: AIR TRACTOR INC AT-602
- Reported engine: P&W CANADA PT6A
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB WPR17LA042](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR17LA042) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20161227020689A

## Narrative

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

ON DECEMBER 27, 2016, ABOUT 1553 PACIFIC STANDARD TIME, AN AIR TRACTOR AT-602, N602L, WAS SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED DURING A FORCED LANDING AT WILLOWS-GLENN COUNTY AIRPORT (WLW), WILLOWS, CALIFORNIA. THE COMMERCIAL PILOT WAS NOT INJURED. THE AIRPLANE WAS ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ AND OPERATED BY THE PILOT UNDER THE PROVISIONS OF TITLE 14 CODE OF FEDERAL REGULATIONS PART 91. VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED AND NO FLIGHT PLAN WAS FILED FOR THE CROSS-COUNTRY FLIGHT THAT DEPARTED MEDLOCK FIELD AIRPORT (69CL), DAVIS, CALIFORNIA AT APPROXIMATELY 1527. THE PERSONAL FLIGHT WAS DESTINED FOR WLW. ACCORDING TO THE PILOT, HE WAS RETURNING THE AIRPLANE TO HIS HOME AIRPORT AFTER A RECENT ANNUAL INSPECTION. AT THE CONCLUSION OF THE 25 MINUTE FLIGHT, THE PILOT INITIATED A STRAIGHT-IN APPROACH TO RUNWAY 31 AND SLIGHTLY REDUCED THE THROTTLE. IMMEDIATELY, HE HEARD A ?POP? NOISE, AND OBSERVED A REDUCTION IN AIRSPEED. WHEN THE PILOT ADVANCED THE THROTTLE TO FULL POWER THE ENGINE POWER AND AIRSPEED DID NOT CHANGE AND THE AIRPLANE BEGAN TO SINK RAPIDLY. FURTHER ATTEMPTS TO RECYCLE THE THROTTLE WERE UNSUCCESSFUL. AS THE AIRPLANE APPROACHED A CANAL ON THE SOUTH END OF THE AIRPORT, THE PILOT DEPLOYED THE WING FLAPS AND THE MAIN LANDING GEAR TOUCHED DOWN ON A GRAVEL ROAD BEYOND A DITCH. THE TAILWHEEL IMPACTED THE DITCH AND THE AIRPLANE FLIPPED OVER AND CAME TO REST INVERTED.

POSTACCIDENT EXAMINATION BY A FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION INSPECTOR REVEALED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE TO THE RUDDER VERTICAL FIN AND LEFT WING TIP SPAR. THE CANOPY AND HORIZONTAL FIN WERE ALSO DAMAGED.

THE ENGINE SUSTAINED MINIMAL DAMAGE WITH THE EXCEPTION OF THE LEFT SIDE EXHAUST TUBE, WHICH WAS DISPLAYED SOME COMPRESSION WRINKLES. THE PROPELLER WAS IMMOVABLE AND EXHIBITED A MECHANICAL SOUND FROM THE AFT PORTION OF THE GEARBOX AT THE ENGINE POWER SECTION. EACH OF THE 5 PROPELLER BLADES EXHIBITED BENDS AND CHORDWISE SCRATCHES. HYDRAULIC FLUID LEAKED FROM THE HYDRAULIC BOX THAT OPERATES THE HOPPER LID, LOCATED ABOVE THE FUEL CONTROLLER, WHICH ALSO RECEIVED SOME OF THE LIBERATED HYDRAULIC FLUID. DURING FURTHER EVALUATION OF THE ENGINE IT WAS DETERMINED THE COMPRESSOR BLEED VALVE WAS INSTALLED INCORRECTLY AT THE LAST ANNUAL INSPECTION

## 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 WPR17LA042](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR17LA042), Dec 27, 2016: Air Tractor AT 602 (N602L), Willows, CA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The decision of the maintenance facility mechanic to conduct maintenance without reference to the applicable manufacturer’s guidance, which resulted in the improper reassembly and subsequent failure…

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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