20170605008099A

Accident · Substantial damage

FAA accident report · Ag-Cat G-164B · Tule Lake, CA · June 5, 2017

Date: June 5, 2017 · 08:30 local
Place: Tule Lake, CA
Airport: Tulelake Municipal
Phase of flight: Cruise/Level Flight
Operating rules: Agricultural (Part 137)
Operator: MFAG
Damage: Substantial damage
Aircraft: N80083
NTSB investigation: NTSBGAA17CA321
Reported as: Ag-Cat G-164B
Reported engine: TPE-331-1-151G
People aboard: 1
Fatal injuries: 0
Other injuries: 0
Pilot’s certificate: Commercial pilot
Pilot’s flight hours: 2,700 total1,720 in this make and model220 in the last 90 days

N80083Registered now · Ag-Cat G-164BS/N 837B · Built 1998 Airframe modelAg-Cat G-164B Engine modelPratt & Whitney R1340 seriesReciprocating

From the FAA’s Accident/Incident Data System (AIDS), through its Aviation Safety Information Portal, as reported. The NTSB investigates accidents separately, and its record of an accident is the fuller one. The aircraft is matched to the registry 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.

What happened

The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.

Pilot stated after departing O81 he was enroute to conduct an ariel application to a field. Prior to arrival at the designated field he performed a low pass on a wheat field he was going to spray later. He stated he noticed a fellow worker on road 102 approaching him driving a large tractor trailer and did a low pass over the vehicle. He stated he misjudged his height and struck the tractor on the ?oversize vehicle? Sign on top of the vehicle with the airplanes left wheel. The wheel then struck a 2500 gallon water tank then impacted a john deer farm vehicles roof, which was on the trailer, where the wheel and gear remained in the vehicle. The pilot returned to O81 and landed on the gravel taxi way. Upon touchdown the right landing gear separated, and propeller contacted the ground damaging all 3 blades.

As the FAA filed it

PILOT STATED AFTER DEPARTING O81 HE WAS ENROUTE TO CONDUCT AN ARIEL APPLICATION TO A FIELD. PRIOR TO ARRIVAL AT THE DESIGNATED FIELD HE PERFORMED A LOW PASS ON A WHEAT FIELD HE WAS GOING TO SPRAY LATER. HE STATED HE NOTICED A FELLOW WORKER ON ROAD 102 APPROACHING HIM DRIVING A LARGE TRACTOR TRAILER AND DID A LOW PASS OVER THE VEHICLE. HE STATED HE MISJUDGED HIS HEIGHT AND STRUCK THE TRACTOR ON THE ?OVERSIZE VEHICLE? SIGN ON TOP OF THE VEHICLE WITH THE AIRPLANES LEFT WHEEL. THE WHEEL THEN STRUCK A 2500 GALLON WATER TANK THEN IMPACTED A JOHN DEER FARM VEHICLES ROOF, WHICH WAS ON THE TRAILER, WHERE THE WHEEL AND GEAR REMAINED IN THE VEHICLE. THE PILOT RETURNED TO O81 AND LANDED ON THE GRAVEL TAXI WAY. UPON TOUCHDOWN THE RIGHT LANDING GEAR SEPARATED, AND PROPELLER CONTACTED THE GROUND DAMAGING ALL 3 BLADES.

NTSB investigation

The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.

NTSB GAA17CA321Accident · No injuriesData collectionFinal reportTulelake, CAThe pilot’s improper decision to perform a low altitude fly-by over ground equipment, which resulted in the airplane striking the equipment.Jun 5, 2017 · Substantial damage

Other reports on N80083 · 2

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

Accident 20010726038329AWallace, NE(-23) On July 26, 2001, at approximately 0830 CDT, ag cat G-164B, N80083, sustained substantial damage as a result of the loss of engine power while engaged in aerial application near Wallace, Nebraska. The PIC reported no injury resulting from the impact.…Jul 26, 2001 · No damage Incident 19980310008169IEngine Run-Up · Malden, MONarrative: while conducting ground run prior to flight, aircraft tail raised off the ground and continued to rotate forward on its main gear until aircraft came to rest on its own propeller. Pilot statement indicated engine power was approaching power setting…Mar 10, 1998 · Minor damage