20170731010229A

Accident · Substantial damage

FAA accident report · Air Tractor AT-802A · Wells, NV · July 31, 2017

Date: July 31, 2017 · 13:00 local
Place: Wells, NV
Phase of flight: Landing: Touchdown
Operating rules: Agricultural (Part 137)
Operator: KOJG
Damage: Substantial damage
Aircraft: N70LA
NTSB investigation: NTSBWPR17LA177
Reported as: Air Tractor AT-802A
Reported engine: Pratt & Whitney PT6A series
People aboard: 1
Fatal injuries: 0
Other injuries: 0
Pilot’s certificates: Commercial pilot, flight instructor
Pilot’s flight hours: 5,208 total3,793 in this make and model137 in the last 90 days

N70LARegistration cancelled Jan 19, 2023 · Air Tractor AT-802AS/N 802A-0102 · Built 2000 Airframe modelAir Tractor AT-802A Engine modelPratt & Whitney PT6A 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.

The Air tractor light attack tanker was landing at the Wells airport after working a fire. The touchdown was normal, and as the tail wheel began to settle, the aircraft made a hard right, and departed the runway. The left landing gear tore off as it dug into the soft shoulder. The left wing struck the ground, and the prop appeared to have struck the left main gear that had sheared off. The pilot stated that it was sudden, and that he had no rudder or aileron control.

The wind was variable at 10 KTS, and theere were widespread thermals (devil dusters) throughout the area.

As the FAA filed it

THE AIR TRACTOR LIGHT ATTACK TANKER WAS LANDING AT THE WELLS AIRPORT AFTER WORKING A FIRE. THE TOUCHDOWN WAS NORMAL, AND AS THE TAIL WHEEL BEGAN TO SETTLE, THE AIRCRAFT MADE A HARD RIGHT, AND DEPARTED THE RUNWAY. THE LEFT LANDING GEAR TORE OFF AS IT DUG INTO THE SOFT SHOULDER. THE LEFT WING STRUCK THE GROUND, AND THE PROP APPEARED TO HAVE STRUCK THE LEFT MAIN GEAR THAT HAD SHEARED OFF. THE PILOT STATED THAT IT WAS SUDDEN, AND THAT HE HAD NO RUDDER OR AILERON CONTROL.

THE WIND WAS VARIABLE AT 10 KTS, AND THEERE WERE WIDESPREAD THERMALS (DEVIL DUSTERS) THROUGHOUT THE AREA.

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 WPR17LA177Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportWells, NVThe pilot's failure to maintain directional control during a period of thermal activity, which led to a runway excursion and impact with terrain.Jul 31, 2017 · Substantial damage